Irma Nell Simpson passed away on November 27, 2019 in Johnson City, surrounded by children and grandchildren.

A life-long resident of Blanco County, Irma Nell was born in Johnson City on February 27, 1926 to Rob and Ruth Crider who owned the WR Crider and Co store on Main Street.  She was born across the street from the store in the house belonging to her Great Aunt Faye Withers, which once stood where the city park is now located.

Growing up, she spent time in Johnson City and the family ranch at Sandy. She graduated from Johnson City High School in 1943 where she was the valedictorian of her class.

Irma Nell was an active member of the Johnson City First United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, and was involved in the United Methodist Women group for many years.  Even after she was no longer physically able to participate in the choir, she would quietly sing along from her seat in the congregation.

Irma Nell rode horses and worked sheep, goats, and cattle alongside the men.  She had a talent for sewing, quilting, gardening and canning.   All enjoyed her homemade fig and mustang grape jelly.  She even tried her hand a few times at making some mustang grape wine ("Sweet Lucy" as she called it).  Grandchildren could always be seen wearing one of her handmade creations. Scraps from the clothes she made sometimes were turned into quilts so they could always remember her and the outfits she made.

Irma Nell and her husband Luke were business owners in Johnson City where they operated Simpson's Gas Co and The Wash House.  Side by side, they ran cattle and goats at ranches in Sandy and San Saba.  Cows were cows but she loved her Spanish goats!  The San Saba ranch, along the Colorado River, also gave them time to pursue another of her favorite pastimes, fishing.

Luke and Irma Nell loved riding their Honda Goldwing to locations as far away as the Great Lakes and Maine adding trip pins and marking off the states they had visited on their biking vests.

Luke and Irma Nell loved to dance and they were regulars at the Sunday afternoon dances at Ed's River Palace. They also served on the dance committee for the Blanco County Fair and Rodeo.

Irma Nell loved music and played piano, guitar, and autoharp.  You could always count on a family jam session during holidays and gatherings out at the ranch in Sandy with Irma Nell joining the group on her piano. And, of course no family gathering was complete without a good game of 42 or Chicken Foot!

Irma Nell was preceded in death by her parents: William Robert Crider and Ruth Tunnel Crider, brothers: Vernon Crider and Byron Crider, and husband:  Luke Simpson.

She is survived by her children Randy Sibley, Cathy Sibley Heffington, Clay Simpson, step daughter Linda Boozer, nine grandchildren, and numerous great grandchildren.

She will be missed by many and live forever in our hearts and through our memories.

Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 PM Sunday, December 1, 2019 at Crofts – Crow Funeral Home in Johnson City where funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday morning with Pastor Lee Romero officiating.  Interment will follow at Sandy Cemetery.