Louie
McGee
Simpson

Louie McGee “Red” Simpson (Grandiddy) passed away peacefully in his home under the tender care of his loving daughters on March 28, 2025, just days after joyfully celebrating his 99th birthday. He now joins his wife of 59 years, Ann Kooker Simpson, in watching over the beautiful family that is their legacy.

Grandiddy was born before the Empire State Building existed, before the highways had numbers, and Amelia Earhart crossed the Atlantic. He lived in a world where practically every modern convenience came to exist in his lifetime, as well as countless wars, societal reformations, upheavals, and advancements. He often spoke about how the Navy provided him the opportunity for a college education and a successful life after the war.  He was a pilot, avid gardener, human atlas, and master of technology and all things mechanical. The depth of his knowledge of absolutely everything was extraordinary, slightly shy of a century of experiences and life lived.

The legacy of a compassionate and brilliant man resides in his four daughters, their spouses, 13 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren. Grandiddy existed in bowties and prints and plaids, and even the occasional floral bucket hat - with zero concern of what others might think. He was patient and jovial; enjoying and relishing the simplest of pleasures: his daily 4:00 beer, a smiling and content great-grandchild in his lap, checking on his chickens, and sitting in the carport watching the birds weave in and out of the thick and ancient magnolia branches.

Behind the measured and thoughtful Southern drawl was a razor-sharp wit and a very quick grace at every holiday meal. The heaviness of his absence will always exist because of his profound presence and impact in all of his family’s lives - and we are proud and grateful that God shared him with us for so long, to have four generations adore him and feel and know his love.

Louie is survived by his four daughters, Carrie (Van), Leslee (Doug), Melanie (Steve), and Natalie (Tony); thirteen grandchildren, Brook (Neal), Teal, Skye (Rick), Royal, Canton, William, Julie (Richard), Dylan (Grace), Winston, Bennett, Lauren (Danny), Amy (Michael), and Christine (Anthony); and his twenty-two great-grandchildren, Ann Charlotte, Sarah Beth, Lila Kate, Reagan, Sumter, Libby Anne, Emily Claire, Ella Grace, Matthew, Christopher, Dorothy, Benjamin, Josephine, Rosemary, Timothy, Andrew, Catherine, Lucia, Peter Francis, Luke, Benedict, and Maria. We are all so thankful to Maricela for her selfless, loving assistance in caring for “Mr. Red” for so long.

You are invited to share memories of Louie McGee “Red” Simpson (Grandiddy) on this webpage: LouieMSimpson.com, and to visit the bench placed in his honor along the walking path at Reynolda Gardens to watch the birds and find peace in the beauty of the natural world, just as he did.