James C. Simpson

James Cary 'Jay' Simpson, 40, passed away at his home in Lenexa, Kansas, on the morning of March 4, 2015. He was born on September 26, 1974 in St Charles, Missouri, son of the late James Forrest 'Jim' Simpson and Donita Barkley. He called many different cities and states home in his younger years, but settled for a time in Winona, Missouri, where he was recruited by Winona Savings Bank to be groomed into management while he was still in high school. After graduating from Winona High School in 1992, Jay continued to work for the bank, until he moved to the Kansas City Area in 1994 to Attend DeVry University. He was a Technical Trainer for MCI and Sprint before becoming the Director of Business Development at SDR, but his most recent, and best loved job was working as an Associate at Target. Jay married the love of his life, Tracey, on July 16, 2005, in Kansas City, Missouri. Their union produced two beautiful daughters, Kara Marie and Abigail Christine.

Jay is preceded in death by his father, James F. 'Jim' Simpson; his brother Heath T. Herbst; his grandparents, Venton Simpson and Muriel (Norton) Simpson, and Don Barkley.

He is survived by a large family, including his wife, Tracey; daughters, Kara and Abigail; his mother, Donita Barkley; his brothers, Wes Herbst (Kristina Cline) and Andrew Herbst (Jennifer Klimek); nieces and nephews, Garen, Lina, Gabriel and Caleb Herbst; grandmother, Lois (Campbell) Barkley; uncles, Dave Simpson (Diane Weaver), Mark Simpson (Connie Deckard), Carol (Simpson) Atkins (Bob), John Barkley (Victoria Partridge), Terry Barkley (Mary Lou Brawley) and Gary Barkley (Shirley Bland); mother-in-law, Jo Rigassio (Selby O'Rear); father-in-law, Al Gumbs (Milli Hogins); sister-in-law, Lisa Gumbs (B. J. Jones), and brother-in-law, Mark Hogins; sister at heart Jayana DeWolf; and so very many other relatives and friends.

Jay loved his family, and his friends, and was a good man. He was also an accomplished Game Player and member of several online gaming networks and communities. He was known as the Game Master of many, and his favorites were Dungeons and Dragons and Magic the Gathering. An avid Geneologist, Book Reader and Artist, Jay was a member of the Cartography Guild and the Folio Society.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 6:00 P.M. Saturday, March 7th at McGilley & Hoge Memorial Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Drive in Overland Park, Kansas. Friends may gather after 5:00 P.M. Saturday at the Chapel. Additional services will be held at the Duncan Funeral Chapel in Winona, Missouri at 2:00 P.M. , vith a visitation from 1:00 - 2:00 P.M. on Monday, March 9th. Interment will follow those services in Mount Zion Cemetery. The family requests that any contributions be made to the Fund Established for Kara & Abigail through gofundme.com.

Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.chapelhil-butler.com, as arrangements are through Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home, 701 North 94th Street in Kansas City, Kansas (913) 334-3366.