On September 2, 2026, we said goodbye to Eric “David” Simpson, 59, of New Bern, North Carolina – a man who was the embodiment of hard work, self-reliance, and unconditional love. He stood as a pillar of strength for his family and for everyone lucky enough to know him.
David was born March 11, 1967, in Louisville, Kentucky. He married the love of his life, Mae, and together they built a life over more than 34 years of marriage. Five years ago, the two made their way to New Bern, where David finally got an opportunity to live out a dream: a life on the water, with a boat of his own and the chance to fish whenever he wanted. He hadn’t yet made it to retirement, but he and Mae were living about as close to their dream as two people could get.
If you knew David, you knew you could count on him – for help, guidance, or simply the reassurance that everything would be okay. It didn’t matter what it was: car trouble, a home project, or a big decision, he was the person you called. And if there was something he didn’t already know how to fix, he’d figure it out, because that was simply who he was. He carried that same resolve into everything he did and everyone he touched, both professionally and personally.
More than anything, David showed his love through his actions. He worked hard to provide for his family and was always willing to put the needs of others before his own. His generosity was quiet and genuine, given without expectation of recognition or anything in return. To those who knew him best, his patience, dependability, and selflessness were simply part of who he was.
He leaves behind his wife, Mae Simpson; his eldest son, Jared Simpson, and his wife, Helen, along with their daughter, Naomi; his youngest son, Tad Simpson; his mother, Betty Simpson; his father, Lowell Simpson; and his four siblings, Mark Simpson ( Betty), LouAnne Armstrong (Jeff), Lisa Bolton, and Craig Simpson (Terri); beloved nieces, and nephews.
David will be deeply missed, but his legacy lives on in the family he loved so fiercely, the countless ways he cared for others, and everything he taught those fortunate enough to know and love him.
The family will receive friends for visitation from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, September 11, at Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home, 4895 N. Preston Hwy. Shepherdsville, Kentucky.
Funeral services will be 12:00 p.m. Saturday, September 12, at Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home, followed by interment at Brookland Cemetery.
