Raymond Gail Simpson

Raymond Gail Simpson

Raymond Gail Simpson, age 87, a resident of Fort Scott, Kansas, died Thursday, May 30, 2013, at the Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott. He was born Dec. 20, 1925, in rural Arcadia, Kan., the son of Lawrence Letton Simpson and Elva Irene Odell Simpson. Following his graduation from high school, Gail joined the United States Coast Guard and served from 1943 to 1946. Following his military service, Gail owned and operated his own trucking company. In 1951, he began a career as a station manager with Continental Airlines. While with Continental, he spent eight years in Vietnam and two and a half years in Okinawa, Japan. He retired in 1978, and moved to Fort Scott. Gail spent many hours golfing nearly every day weather permitting. He also enjoyed traveling, hunting and fishing.

Survivors include two nephews, Richard Simpson, and wife, Peggy and Daryl Simpson; and a niece, Betty Louise Simpson, all of Louisville, Colo. Also surviving are two great-nieces, Ashley and Taylor Simpson. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Allen Simpson.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 4 at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Sheffield Cemetery near Arcadia, Kan. Memorials are suggested to Mercy Hospice and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.