Funeral services for 64-year old Edward “Eddie” Simpson are Sat, June 15, 2024 at 10:00 at the Wounded Knee District School in Manderson, SD, with Deacon Bill White officiating and traditional Lakota services by Mike Little Boy
Burial is at St Agnes Catholic Cemetery in Manderson.
A one-night wake service starts Friday, June 14, at 4:00 at the Wounded Knee District School in Manderson with evening services starting at 7:00.
Online condolences may be left at siouxfuneralhome.com
Edward Brian Simpson was born March 21, 1960, and passed away on June 5, 2024.
Frank and Theresa Simpson welcomed their son at the Indian Health Service Hospital in Philadelphia, MS. Ed, known as Eddie by his relatives and friends in MS, received the Sacrament of Baptism at Holy Rosary Indian Mission (Catholic Church) in the Tucker Community.
As a proud member of the Mississippi Band Choctaw Indians, Ed grew up in the Pearl River community reservation with his siblings, Audria and Tony, along with their grandparents.
While attending school, Ed fell in love with music which later in life he could play all kinds of musical instruments. He was a very talented musician and was told he could play six different kinds of instruments.
Ed was an active band member and Alumnus with Choctaw Central High School. He and other band members played all over the state and even produced an album with various songs. In his spare time, he would eventually play with a local band called Red Sand, composed of several talented Choctaw Tribal Members that played contemporary music.
When Ed completed high school, he attended the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS then moved out of state to attend Haskell Indian Junior College, which is now called Haskell Indian Nations University.
He graduated from Haskell and graduated from the University of Kansas. Ed lived in Lawrence, KS for 40 years and moved to Pine Ridge, SD in November 2023.
Ed was employed with Haskell Indian Nations University for 32 years, just a couple months shy of 33 years. He made a positive impact on the lives of many students while employed there, just as they had an impact on his life too.
Ed always made phone calls home back to Mississippi to check on family members and friends. One by one, he would get all the 411 on each family member before he would speak about himself and his life experience off the reservation.
One call back home he spoke about becoming a Spiderman collector. He would spend hours looking for the right spiderman to add to his special collection.
Another time, he came home and showered everyone with a Spiderman toy. Ed had a huge collection of Spiderman toys, almost all of which he later rehomed to another collector in Lawrence, KS.
Anytime Ed came back home to Mississippi family and relatives would cook him a meal to feast for days. Special calls would be, “Hey, tell me that recipe for neckbones and rice” or any other favorite dish. As Ed’s health started to decline, the phone calls became less.
Ed was a very fluent Choctaw speaker and was proud he could speak his native language.
Ed will be missed by many in Lawrence, KS and the neighbors in the neighborhood where he lived.
Ed was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Baxter York and Celia Simpson-Davis (William); maternal grandparents Anthony McMillan, Josie & Venie Comby-Steve; parents Frank Lee Simpson and Theresa McMillan-Simpson-Amos (Finis); three infant siblings; sisters Audria Simpson, Nita Amos, and Amelia Simpson; brother Leonard (Dale) Amos; and niece LeAnn Simpson.
Ed is survived by his wife Paula (Brown) Simpson of Pine Ridge; step-children Savannah (Lucio) Weathermon of Lawrence and Michael (MJ) Lucio of Pine Ridge; grandchildren Catherine Bad Milk, Mikaeli Weathermon, Daniel Weathermon, Elias Lucio, Ethan Lucio, Joziah Lucio, Kingston Lucio, and Brayleigh Lucio; sisters Wilma Simpson-McMillan (James) from Philadelphia, MS and Sherry Oocumma of Cherokee, NC; brothers Anthony Simpson from Choctaw and Kenneth Simpson of Philadelphia; and numerous other nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, relatives, and friends.
Pallbearers will be Michael (MJ) Lucio, Wade Good Voice Flute, Pete Brown, Will Yellow Bull, Matthew Yellow Bull, and Miguel Ruiz.
Honorary pallbearers will be Haskell Indian University Residential Staff, Neighborhood of 3306 Yellowstone Drive in Lawrence, All Students during the years Ed was employed at Haskell Indian Nations University (1988-2021), Band Members of Choctaw Central High School, University of Kansas Band Members (1984-1988), Pete Brown & Family, Harriet (Brown) Broken Nose & Family, Jumping Eagle Family, Angie Clifford & Percy White Plume & Family, Ramona White Plume & Family, Vanessa (Yellow Bear) Alegria-Ramirez & Family, Brown Families, Black Tail Deer Families, Ghost Families, Red Elk Families, and All Friends & Relatives of Choctaw, MS
Arrangements entrusted with the Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD