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Simpson, Mary Shelton

July 18, 1947 –
 January 30, 2019

Obituary

Mary Shelton Knight Simpson Vescovo, born on July 18, 1947, died on January 30, 2019. Each of this mouthful of names holds a special part of who Shelly was. Mary was her mother’s name. Shelton came from her beloved grandmother Maud Shelton McEntire who instilled in Shelly a love of reading and of the countryside. The Knights have deep roots in Dallas back to the mid-1800’s. With Henry Simpson she had two amazing children, Kimberly Kristen Simpson Johnson and Geoffrey Noah Simpson and had a life-long friendship. Pete Vescovo brought love and a sense of being cherished into her life. She grew up with sister Sally and brother John and remembers many times playing Tarzan, Sheena Queen of the Jungle and Boy with them in the woods, lying on a mattress late at night tuned in to The Shadow on the radio, or listening to Beethoven and Wagner records late into the night. She reconnected with her dad Bob Knight in 1982 and to her delight – step-mom Barbara and sister Dee Ann and husband Weldon and brother Robert and his wife Royce. She grew up in Addison, Texas on a farm, eating Easter eggs in the hayloft, catching crawfish with bacon and eating hand-churned ice cream in the summer. The Countryside was a deep part of her soul. She was sitting on the stile looking west at a sunset about age 8 when she sensed “God is” and knew it a blessing. She attended The Hockaday School, Southern Methodist University, and Perkins School of Theology. At Perkins, she became aware of her deep call to Adult Christian Formation. She worked at Saint Michael and All Angels Church since 1979 and participated in Christian Formation leadership at the diocesan, provincial and national Episcopal church level. She often remarked how wonderful it is to get to go to work each day and be with people you love and do what you know you were created to do. She retired after 37 years in 2016. She was blessed to discover that all the things people say about being a grandparent are true. Her special delights were her grandchildren Brenden, Austin and Logan Simpson and Bennett, Shelton and Elle Johnson and Julie, Pierce & Hunter Smetek. In each of them she experienced the saying “The first time we heard his/her laughter, we knew the world would never be the same”. Thanks to Nikki Kaplan Simpson, Clyde John Bennett Johnson, IV and Jill Reno Simpson along with Geoff and Kim, for giving life and love to these remarkable young people. Shelly was a survivor of ovarian cancer since 2007. What doesn’t kill you does make you stronger. Through treatments and remissions, she realized a deeper connection to God, a deeper appreciation of the gift of each day, affirmed the importance of a sense of humor, and discovered a ministry of connection with others who battle the same disease. “Surely it is God who saves me, I will trust in Him and not be afraid.” She offers special thanks to Dr. Allen Stringer and his staff for excellent medical care and for his great humanity. Memorials may be made to The Elizabeth Taylor Ovarian Cancer Research Fund c/o Dr. Allen Stringer, 3410 Worth Street, Dallas, Texas 75246, or to the Blanton Davis Ovarian Cancer Research Fund at M.D. Anderson Hospital, Development Office Unit 705, P. 0. Box 301439, Houston, Texas 77230. For each of you, she wishes that you live as Julian of Norwich described: “And all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”

A Service to Celebrate Shelly’s life will be held February 12, 2019 at 11am St. Michaels and All Angels Church 8011 Douglas Ave, Dallas, TX 75225

    Kate&Mark Nordyke
    2 Feb 2019
    6:13pm

    Our Lord received another Beautiful Angel. Condolences & Prayers to All She loved& All who love her. Mark,Kate & Family

    Layne Jackson
    2 Feb 2019
    10:57pm

    Shelly was such a joyful and gifted teacher. I only knew her because I walked into St. Michael one day, and became involved in leading bible studies…prompted by Shelly. I will miss her, and I know I am not alone. My sincere sympathy to her family.

    Victor Vescovo
    4 Feb 2019
    6:08pm

    Victoria and I were so very saddened to hear of Shelly’s passing. Her faith, intelligence, and compassion were very rare and a gift to us both and our father with whom she shared an important part of her life. We thank her for love for him, caring, and accepting us into her love and friendship. She will be missed by so many. Please know we are truly and deeply sorry for your loss.

    MikeGosslee
    6 Feb 2019
    6:53pm

    Fortunate to see that warm smile on Shelley’s face many times over the decades. You had such a special person in your life and know you will take joy in having those memories. Still, my greatest condolence.

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"I can’t say enough about how helpful and professional Dusty Martin, the funeral director at the Aria Cremation location on NW Highway has been. From my initial call, he was kind and informative. My friend died at home while on hospice and she was picked up in about an hour after receiving the call from the hospice nurse. The person who arrived to pick her up was also very professional/respectful and allowed us to take as much time with her as we wished. When I met with Dusty the next day about arrangements, he explained the process and options available without being pushy or trying to “sell” extras. Throughout the process, he kept me informed and, for example, was careful to be certain I understood the cost of the obituary I wanted and offered some options for reducing that cost if I wished. When I stopped by for another reason and started talking about some of the problems I was having with the pictures and media I hoped to use at a memorial lunch I was planning, he not only listened patiently but offered technology advice and let me use his personal media player. I have had experience arranging cremations for four others using two other local companies, and this experience with Dusty at Aria has been by far the best one I have had."
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"My Daddy’s service and our family experience at Aria Northwest Highway was truly blessed. Funeral Director Dustin Martin is the kind of person that you would like to see on a more regular basis – but in his industry – you hope to not see him that often. That being said – THANK YOU DUSTIN for your unending kindness, compassion and friendship through the process. Meeting you and discussing Dallas History, Find A Grave and my Dad’s lifelong contributions to the great City of Dallas was simply wonderful! In memory of my dad James A. Dodd, Sr. – I want to personally thank you and let you know that you made everything better in that moment. Your calling to “Be There” is spot on. Aria has a one in a million guy in you! Bling Blinky of TEXAS Shout Out: God Bless You!!"
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