Ann Simmons Alspaugh

Ann Simmons Alspaugh passed away, unexpectedly, at home, Tuesday, September 20th, 2016. Her family, and many, many friends, mourn the loss of one of Oklahoma’s leading ladies. Ann was the mother of three, the grandmother of seven, an executive, a community leader, a patron of the arts and an engaged philanthropist.

Ann was born in Duncan, Oklahoma, on December 13, 1934, the daughter of Marjorie Simmons Alspaugh Gray and Howard Beason Alspaugh. Her step father, Robert Mark Gray, was an advertising executive, credited for the then famous “Put a Tiger in your Tank” advertising campaign for Exxon. Ann is also the granddaughter of Ola Mixson Simmons and Louis Bascom (L.B.) Simmons. L.B. founded the Rocket Oil Company of Duncan, Oklahoma and the Rock Island Refining Companies whose pipelines and other assets were merged into Koch Industries.

Ann attended Duncan High School in Duncan, Oklahoma. She loved all of her Duncan schools and often said she was well prepared for Smith College and later for the University of Oklahoma where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. With her first husband, Paul Anthony Andres, Ann had three beautiful children, Holly, Louis and Paul.

Education was of essential importance to Ann, as it was something she said no-one could take away. The honorary degree bestowed upon her by OCU, the long associations with The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and the Oklahoma School of Science and Math, and the degrees in law, medicine and business achieved by her children were sources of great pride. To her family, she set an example of exceptionalism, grace under pressure, an enduring image of a woman of elegance, manners and style.

Community leadership defined Ann. She had a servant’s heart and used her energies and gifts to make a difference in the lives of others. Service enriched her life, gave her joy, confidence and happiness. Hence, over the course of her long life, Ann dedicated herself to the enrichment of Oklahoma and the often anonymous care of those in immediate need. In return, the state honored her with membership into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

Beauty and art also surrounded the life of Ann. She understood the impact of the fine arts on the culture of Oklahoma. She collected, she mentored, she gave special support to Native American artists, and she focused her attention most recently on the Oklahoma Contemporary Art Center.

Ann loved each and every organization and endeavor that she championed, and her family would like to honor her with a listing of her various awards and associations.

Ann’s awards include: the Oklahoma City University's Distinguished Service Award in 1984; the Outstanding Philanthropist Award, National Society of Fund Raising Executives, the Oklahoma Chapter 1985; Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, from Oklahoma City University in 1986; the 1991 Recipient of the Governor's Arts Awards for the State of Oklahoma; the 1992 Oklahoma City University Norick Hulsey Gallery Society Award; the Second Annual "Women of the Year Award" in philanthropy from the Red Lands Council of Girl Scouts, 1992; the First Annual Grande Reverence Award at the "20th Anniversary Celebration" by Ballet Oklahoma, 1992; the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, New York, New York, 1992; the Woman Who Makes a Difference Award, by International Women's Forum, 1992, Denver, Colorado; the 1992 Byliner Award, by Oklahoma City Professional Chapter of Women in Communications, Inc., 1992; Chosen for recognition at the 27th Annual "Ladies in the News" luncheon, March 1993, by the Oklahoma Hospitality Club; the 1993 Distinguished Friend of the Oklahoma City University Alumni Association; the National Conference of Christians and Jews 1994 National Conference Humanitarian Award; the Duncan Education Hall of Fame Award, 1994; the Northwood University Distinguished Woman Award, 1994; the Oklahoma City Arts Council l994 Mayor's Award; the Rotary 29 Community Fellow Award, 1994; the Journal Record Corporate Woman of the Year Finalist, 1996; the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, 1997; the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Distinguished Trustee Award, 1997; the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics Faculty Award, 2000; the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Distinguished Board Member 2001; the Oklahoma University College of Medicine, Deans Award for Distinguished Community Service, 2002; the Oklahoma Health Center Foundation, Living Treasure Award, 2002; the Kappa Woman of the Year 2004; the Junior League of Oklahoma City, Mary Baker Rumsey, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2006; the Oklahoma Commerce and Industry Hall of Honor, Lifetime Achievement ·Award, 2007; and the Jasmine Moran Children's Museum, Individual Benefactor Award, 2009.

Ann’s current interests included: the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (Oklahoma City) Life Director; the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence (in public education) (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), Member, Board of Directors and Executive Committee; chaired first Awards Banquet in 1987 and Awards Banquet in 1991; the Junior League of Oklahoma City, Sustaining Member; the Oklahoma Arts Institute (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), Emeritus Board Member; the International Women's Forum (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), Member; Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, Member, Advisory Board;· Ballet Oklahoma (Oklahoma City, Member, Board of Trustees, and Trustee at Large; Red Earth, Inc., (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Member, Advisory Board; Allied Arts Foundation (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), Honorary Board Member; the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority Foundation, (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), Trustee; the Amada and J.B. Pena Art Has Heart Foundation, (Austin, Texas) Advisory Board; Oklahoma City University, Trustee Emerita; Executive Advisory Board of the School of Music, Oklahoma City University; and Oklahoma Arts Institute Foundation, Director.

Ann’s past interests include: the Zoological Society of Oklahoma (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), past Trustee; the Oklahoma Symphony Foundation (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), past Trustee; the Palm Springs Desert Museum (Palm Springs, California), past Member, Board of Directors; the American Lung Association of Oklahoma, 1986 Honorary Chairman, "A Spirited Affair”; the Oklahoma Aids Care Fund, Member, Advisory Committee; Rotary Club of Oklahoma City, Honorary Member, Club 29; the United Negro College Fund, 1985-1986 Co-Chair Local Volunteer Leadership Committee; the National Conference for Community and Justice, Board of Directors; the Oklahoma Advocates for the Arts and Humanities, Co-Chair; The University of Oklahoma Museum of Art (Norman, Oklahoma) past Member, Board of Visitors; the Anderson Ranch Art Center (Aspen, Colorado), past Member, National Council; Dance Aspen (Aspen, Colorado), past Member, National Advisory Board; the Aspen Art Museum (Aspen, Colorado) past Member, National Council; Oklahoma Alliance for Arts Education (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) past Member, Board of Directors; the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra, past Member, Board of Directors; Aspen Music Festival and School (Aspen, Colorado) Member, National Council; The University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences (Norman, Oklahoma), Board of Visitors; the Jacobson Foundation (Norman, Oklahoma), Member, Honorary Board; the Oklahoma Heritage Association, Member, Board of Directors; the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation, Board of Directors, Treasurer; The University of Oklahoma Institute for Breast Health (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Member, Advisory Board; the State Arts Council of Oklahoma, Member; the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Honorary Board; University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OklahomaCity, Oklahoma) Member, Board of Visitors; National Museum of the American Indian of the Smithsonian Institution (Washington, D.C.), Member, International Founders Council; the Cimarron Circuit Opera Company (Norman, Oklahoma), Member, Advisory Board; the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), Trustee, Executive Committee, Foundation Board, Development Chair; the Mabee Gerrer Museum of Art, (Shawnee, Oklahoma) Advisory Board; the Business Circle for Arts Education, Board of Directors; Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (Oklahoma City), Trustee, Chairman of the Honors and Awards Committee.

Ann is survived by her daughter Holly and her husband Clay Healey, her son Dr. Louis Howard Andres Cox and his wife, Kathryn, and her son Paul Anthony Andres Cox and his wife Melinda, by her grandchildren Valerie Gray Farabee, Elizabeth Alspaugh Farabee, Emily Ann Cox, Alexandra Leigh Cox, Caroline Rachel Cox, Sarah Rebecca Cox, and Michael Lawrence Cox, her sister Gay Alspaugh Roane, and her nieces and nephews G. Grant Roane IV, Gaylan Alspaugh Roane Hellyer, and Marjorie Simmons Roane.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, the Simmons Charitable Foundation of Oklahoma (PO Box 307, Oklahoma City, OK 73101), or the charity of your choice.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, September 23, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at All Souls Episcopal Church, 6400 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73116.