VALERIE JEANNE (WILLIAMS) SIMPSON Valerie Jeanne (Williams) Simpson passed away Thursday, January 1, 2015, at St. Luke's Hospital from sudden heart failure caused by a blood clot. Born and raised in Kansas City, Mo., Valerie was a 1979 graduate of Hickman Mills High School. She attended Southwest Missouri State University and graduated with an Engineering Management/Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Missouri- Rolla. She later received her Master's in Engineering Management from the University of Kansas. Valerie's professional career began as an industrial engineer for General Motors in Flint, Mich., and continued as an industrial engineer for AlliedSignal in Olathe, Kan. In 1997, Valerie embarked on a new professional path at Sprint where she worked her way up to Manager of Implementation for the Care Program. However, her tremendous professional success was overshadowed by the role that brought her the most joy: loving wife of Chuck, and proud mother of Charlie. Valerie's memory will live on in the many lives she touched and the great good that she so deftly, efficiently, and passionately facilitated. As an active member of Zeta Tau Alpha, she served as president of her Eta Theta chapter, and then went on to become an important alumni advisor at the Rockhurst University's Kappa Eta chapter. Her Zeta sisters would become some of her most cherished, lifelong friends. A dedicated philanthropist, Valerie put her all into organizing her son's "Blue and Gold" Cub Scout banquet, served as a Room Mother at Oak Hill Elementary School for a number of years, was a literacy volunteer long before a mother, and used her 50th birthday as an occasion to raise funding for wells and clean water in Malawi, Africa. Each year she would lead her team at Sprint in some charitable endeavor and also initiated and served as the ambassador for a successful, company-wide blood drive. Valerie will be forever remembered for her great passion (including in the stands cheering on the Chiefs at her husband's side), her professional knack for "clearing away the clutter" to reach what was most important, her fantastic wit and full-throttle laughter, her compassion for those in need, and her endless abilities (ranging from algebra to Pinterest projects). But she will be missed most by those who loved and knew her best, including beloved husband, Charles (Chuck) Simpson; her precious son, Charles (Charlie) Simpson, parents, Lois (Williams) Swezey, Kansas City, and Leslie Williams (Bonnie Meritt), Dexter, Mo.; stepfather, Harry Swezey (deceased); father- and mother-in- law, Don and Ellen Simpson, Leawood, Kan.; her siblings, Greg Williams (Derri O'Brien), Kansas City, Cheri Kelly (John), Kansas City, and Renee Hense (Jim), Los Angeles, Calif.; brothers-in-law, Jeff Simpson (Michelle Parker), Lexington, Mo., David Simpson, Eudora, Kan.; and nieces and nephews, Kelsey Reid, Rowan O'Brien-Williams, Linden O'Brien-Williams, Tyler Simpson, Chloe Simpson, Emily Parker, Eleanor Hense, and Anton Hense. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, at McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO 64145. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at Church of the Resurrection-Wesley Chapel, 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS 66224. Burial to follow in Floral Hills East Memorial Gardens, 25203 East U.S. Highway 50, Lee's Summit, MO 64086. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Charles Simpson College Fund, PO Box 3051, 15050 W. 138th Street, Olathe, KS 66063. Condolences and fond memories may be shared online at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com. Arr.: McGilley State Line Chapel.