Lannis James Simpson

Lannis James Simpson, 82, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away on October 24, 2025, at home surrounded by his family. Jim was born on December 11, 1942, in San Francisco, California. He was the child of the late James Banyum Simpson and Goldie Maye Nichols.

Jim enlisted in the US Navy in 1959 after attending Ysleta High School in El Paso, TX. He and his wife Yvonne raised their family in Flagstaff, Arizona where they lived for 33 years. Jim worked at Black Mesa Pipeline as an electrical and communications engineer until he retired in 2004.

Yvonne, his loving wife of 46 years, preceded Jim in death. He was fortunate to find love and companionship in his remaining years with his second wife Virginia Mildon, who also preceded him in death in 2022.

Jim is survived by his daughter Julie Plescia (Jeff), granddaughters Caroline and Elisabeth Plescia; son Mark Simpson (Rhonda), granddaughter Ashley White (Dan), granddaughter Amanda Sypert (Mat) and great-grandson Atticus Sypert; daughter Jennifer Beaty (Jon) and grandson Cole Beaty; sister, Geraldine Kobia; brother-in-law Kenneth Wilson (Julie) and nephew Scott Wilson and his children Danielle and Devin Wilson; Virginia’s children Eric Mildon and Gina Delgado, and her grandchildren Christopher, Joshua and Kayla Mildon, Delilah and Barbara Delgado.

A visitation and funeral service will be from 11:00 - 2:00 pm on November 4, 2025, at Hillcrest Funeral Home Chapel, followed by burial at Fort Bliss Cemetery at 2:30pm.