Mason Simpson, age 79, of Galesburg, Illinois, passed away at 9:30 PM on Friday, September 29, 2023 at his residence. He was born March 7, 1944 in Lancaster, Kentucky, the son of Richard Howard and Beatrice Alexandra (Benge) Simpson. Mason was raised in Kentucky on the family tobacco farm, moving to Monmouth at the age of five, where he attended local schools. In 1964, Mason married Lorene Wetterow in Galesburg, Illinois, and that union of 58 years produced two daughters. They later divorced.
Mason worked many jobs in the area, beginning with paper routes in Monmouth, bought and sold automobiles, worked for a time at the Hotel Custer in Galesburg, and also drove a taxi cab in Galesburg. He worked for Maytag for thirty years, retiring in 1994. Mason also owned and operated Galesburg Tree Service in Galesburg for twenty-five years. He enjoyed many hobbies and interests including collecting and antiques, photography, music, gardening, fishing, and motorcycles. Mostly, Mason had the job of remembering and relaying all the families history to his daughters and grandchildren, a passion he was most proud of. He could teach the old family recipes from heart. As he grew older, he developed a fondness for the neighborhood cats, feeding and visiting with them often. Mason also enjoyed a special friendship with his dog Diamond, or “Baby” as he called her.
Mason is survived by two daughters, Susette (Joe) Rogers and Stephanie Simpson, both of Peoria, Illinois, grandchildren; Ashley (Nick) Doubet, Ryan (Ann) Simpson, Alixandria (Nathaniel) Benjamin, Lauren (Cristafer) Boynton, Thomas (Mike) Allen, Tarynn (Tanner) Lewis, Tylynn and Jalen Bell, and Wayland Cunningham, Jr., great-grandchildren; Kolbie, Dominik, Drake, Sophija, Cherish, Kynslee, Ronin, Caylee, Raya, and Cristafer, Jr., and great-great-grandaughter, Stella. Also surviving are his sister Caroline Weiman of Galesburg, Illinois and two brothers, Paul Simpson and David Simpson, both of Galesburg, Illinois. Mason’s family would also like to acknowledge his friend Jo Johnson who helped care for his dog in times of need. He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters; Violet Crager, Mabel Hochstetler, Stella Harlow, and Elizabeth Moberly, and brothers; Gene Simpson, Richard Simpson, Jr., and Delbert Simpson.
A funeral service for Mason Simpson is planned for 11:00 AM on Friday, October 6, 2023 at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth, Illinois. Visitation is planned from 10:00-11:00 AM prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be at Warren County Memorial Park in Monmouth. Memorials may be left for the care of kittens at Lundeen Animal Hospital in Oneida, Illinois.
