Obituary

Dorene Simpkins
(January 11, 1916 - July 11, 2019)

Dorene Ferguson Simpkins, 103, formerly of Huntington, WV, took Jesus’ hand on July 11, 2019 as He welcomed her to Heaven.  She joined the spirits of her ancestors and many friends including her parents, Wayne and Eska Ferguson, her siblings, Doris Finley, Harold and Frank Ferguson, and Wanda Maynard, her husband Hearon Simpkins, her son Donald Richard Simpkins and a great-great-grandson, Bentley Moore.   Dorene was born on January 11, 1916 on Trace Creek out of Fort Gay, the second of nine children.  She graduated from Fort Gay High School in 1934 and was immediately allowed to teach at Christian and Rich Creek Elementary, and later at the Forks of Hurricane.  She later lived with her sister Doris Finley (Edgar) in Huntington, where she worked in a pants factory and took courses at Marshall University as finances would allow.  She met her future husband in Huntington, and they married in 1940.  Firstborn Donald was born 13 months later, son David in 1943, and daughter Marilyn in 1945.  Dorene was a member of Seventh Avenue Baptist Church in Huntington, WV, and a lifelong Christian and follower of Jesus Christ.  After raising the children and working as a professional seamstress in Huntington, Dorene went back to teaching in 1958 and finished her Bachelor’s Degree at Marshall in 1968.  She retired from teaching in 1979 and became a fulltime caregiver to her then invalid husband until his death in 1983.  Her hobbies included activities at the senior center, painting, arts & crafts, ceramics, reading, and writing.  In spite of being legally blind in her later years, she continued writing her entire life, completing more than two dozen journals and books of poetry.  She resided at Morning Pointe Senior Living in Russell, KY during her last few years.  Dorene’s surviving siblings include brothers George  Ferguson (Leeta) of Bristol, VA and Bill Ferguson (Billie) of Ashland, KY, sisters Betty Adkins (Bill) of Hurricane, WV and Glenna Wellman (Charles) of Huntington, WV.  She is survived by her son David Byron Simpkins and wife Barbara of Raceland, KY, her daughter Marilyn Sue Ardisson and husband Richard of Radcliff, KY, and her daughter-in-law Karen Ferguson Simpkins of Huntington, WV.  Her grandchildren include Terry Simpkins of Brookfield, Ohio; Rebecca Dawn Simpkins of Huntington, WV; Marc Ardisson and wife Michelle of Nashville, TN; and Anita Ardisson Witt and husband Chris of Glasgow, KY.  Her great-grandchildren include Nichole Simpkins Spears (Brandon); Jon Simpkins; Michele Simpkins Moore (Austin); Chelsea, Aaron, and Bryce Ardisson; Ryan and Lauren Witt; great-great- grand daughters, McKenzie Simpkins, Patricia Kay Simpkins and great- great-grandsons Jackson and Blake Moore.  She also is survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.     Funeral services will be held by Pastor Johnny Riley, 12 noon Thursday, July 18, 2019  at Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary, 328 6th Ave, Huntington, WV, with visitation prior from 10 a.m. until service time.  Interment will follow the service in Hillcrest Cemetery off Rt 75 in Kenova, WV.