Jack Simpson

Jack Simpson, 80, of Nuttall Rise, Florida, avid reader, historian, expert diver, amateur archeologist, loving brother and friend, diehard U of F Gator fan, and wise old character, has not passed away, except in body. He lives on in our hearts and memories. Jack was born in Palatka, Florida on May 1, 1932 and moved to Monticello, Florida at an early age. He served as President of the 1950 senior class at the old Monticello High School. He attended the University of Florida in Gainseville, and was elected to serve as the Commander of the Sigma Nu Fraternity there, where he made many friends with whom he kept in close contact for most of his life. Following college, he served in the Army of the United States with the 101st airborne division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Upon leaving the Army, he returned to Monticello, where he was associated with Simpson Nursery Company for several years. After purchasing and moving to his beloved "Fish Camp" at Nuttall Rise, he began work as the Executive Director with the United States Department of Agriculture in Perry, Florida, where he remained for 24 years. While working in Perry, he served as President of the Perry Kiwanis Club for two consecutive years. Jack retired and lived at his home in Nuttall Rise, on the beautiful Aucilla River, where he remained for the next forty-five years. He was able to pursue his interest in the science of archeology when he approached the University of Florida Archeology Department with questions about his impressive collection of arrowheads and artifacts that were gathered over many years of diving in the Aucilla River with various friends. After seeing Jack's collection, it was decided that a team of divers from the university would form a project to explore the river. He worked with the University of Florida team and helped guide their ten year dig there. His advice and knowledge of the area were invaluable to the excavating team. Jack was able to apply and receive grants from the National Geographic Society and the Florida Museum of Natural History to help sponsor the project that became known as "The Aucilla River Prehistory Project". Spanning a twenty year period, from 1983-2003, this project would go on to put the Aucilla River and the Nuttall Rise Ladson property "on the map", so to speak. Eighteen nationally registered archeological sites were discovered on a two mile stretch of the river by the crews working on this project. What began as a curiosity about the origin of his collected arrowheads and artifacts, eventually turned into a world renowned project which would go forth to tag the Aucilla River Basin as one of the most important archeological sites in the Northern Hemisphere, possibly the world. Thus, Jack can be credited with making a major impact on the studies and science of the early inhabitants of North America. Jack is survived by his sisters, Mary Simpson Orbe Ernie, and Miranda Martinez, his nieces, Kendall Schomberg Aaron, and Emily Orbe, his nephews, Stuart Vernon, and Buckley Vernon Amy, his cousins, Sunny and Bill Bippus, his favorite brother-in-law and old diving buddy, Rusty Vernon Carmel, his godson, Mark Simpson Mosley, and his beloved dog and cat, RJ and Bunch Boi. The family wishes to thank Big Bend Hospice Erica and crew in Perry, Florida, the staff Tenu, Liz and nurses at the Margaret Z. Dozier Hospice House in Tallahassee, Florida, and Bethany Hospice Jordana in Valdosta, Georgia. Thanks also to Dr. Keith Beverly, Dr. Amanda May, and her PA, Bobbi Bentley, all of Thomasville, Georgia. And last, but most importantly, many thanks to the Golden Living Center staff in Thomasville, Georgia, who lovingly and patiently provided remarkable care for Jack in his last days. For the many friends who gave their support to Jack and his sister Mary in his final months, there are no words to convey the gratitude we feel. To Becky Lee, her husband Pat Tillman, and her whole family, to Eddie Green, Joe and Nancy Latvis, John and Sue Ladson, Betty Jean and Hoyt Horne, John and Don Horne, Mary and Melvin Vaughn, Sonny and Jamie Ellison, Leigh and Anne Perkins, Joann and Melvin Suggs, Jim Dunbar, Harry and Jackie Moses, Lisa Parrott, Suzanne Vereen, and many of his high school classmates, your love made all things bearable. The journey would have been much harder without you all. Jack was a lucky man to have gathered such a wide circle of friends. His love of solitude and his life of quiet existence on his beloved river, formed the man we came to know and love. This passage surely represents him well. "The answer is that when a man has been there and undergone the baptism of solitude, he can't help himself. Once he has been under the spell of the vast, luminous, silent country, no other place is quite strong enough for him, no other surroundings can provide the supremely satisfying sensation of existing in the midst of something that is absolute. He will go back, whatever the cost in comfort or money, for the absolute has no price." P. Bowles. At Jack's request, there will be no service. For anyone wishing to honor Jack's life, his wish would be to reach out to any person or animal needing a helping hand. Any donations to honor him should go to Big Bend Hospice or to the Margaret Z. Dozier Hospice House in Tallahassee, Florida, or to Bethany Hospice in Valdosta, Georgia. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guest register at www.allenfh.com