Patricia J. Simpson

Patricia J. Simpson (Pat) passed away on Saturday April 12th, 2025. She is survived by her daughter Pam Alonzo (Robert), her son Scott Simpson (Susan), her grandchildren Katie Simpson, Allison Lachmandas (Alex), Troy Simpson (Sophie), and her Swedish “granddaughter” Jenny Biesert (Mattias).

Pat was born on June 15th, 1932, in Ann Arbor, Michigan to Dr. Howard Curry James and Dorothy (Rice) James. When she was two her family relocated to Tucson where she lived until shortly after she graduated from college in 1954.

In September of 1954 Pat married C. Dee. Simpson, a friend since high school, who coincidentally attended the same college – Ohio Wesleyan. Dee’s time with the Air Force took them to Harlingen, Texas where her daughter Pam was born. Dee’s post Air Force career with Merrill Lynch moved the family to Phoenix, where she gave birth to her son Scott. The family subsequently moved to Tucson in 1964 and then on to La Jolla, CA in 1969, where they lived until 1979. After that, Merrill took them to Pacific Palisades and back to Phoenix before they returned to Tucson where Dee retired in 1991.

A couple of years after her husband Dee passed in 2008, Pat began a companionship with Schuyler Lininger. Before Schulyer’s passing in 2019, they enjoyed an active social life and traveled the world together extensively. Schuyler’s adult children Skye (Jane), Chris (Carol), Mitch, and Gretchen Barbatelli (Chess), along with their children, quickly grew to love Pat.

Pat was very active in student body affairs both in high school and in college. She remained active in the Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni association for most of her life. Additionally, she volunteered as a docent at Fort Lowell, as a tester for Amblyopia in young children, and as a guide for school classes at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.

Pat’s philosophy for living was that true fulfillment came from living in God’s world one day at a time -- savoring it and leaving today’s disappointments behind while borrowing no troubles from tomorrow. She believed this was accomplished by accepting life, pain, and “things that go bump in the night” while also cultivating love with new and old friendships, and by finding a new project that makes it exciting to get up in the morning.

Pat’s passions included travel (she loved experiencing new places), bridge (a game she enjoyed with many of her friends), being kind to people and helping them however she could, and her grandchildren whom she adored.

Friends are invited to join the family to celebrate Pat’s life on Saturday May 3rd at either the Hacienda at the Canyon from 11:30 to 1:30 or at the Tucson Country Club also on May 3rd from 3:00 to 5:00.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to:

· Tucson Wildlife Center (PO Box 18320 Tucson AZ, 85731; ph# 520-290-9453 or

· Make Way for Books (a children’s literacy foundation) -- 700 N. Stone Ave. Tucson, AZ, 85705; ph# 520-398-6451