Johnny Calvin Simpson, was born in Springdale, Arkansas on December 23, 1955. He left this world on October 15, 2025, in Tulsa, OK, at the age of 69. It was a long journey in-between, touching the lives of many people. Johnny had many friends and played sports in high school for Yale Bulldogs.

Johnny loved working for Homer Ray at the Yale News Press. He received his GED while proudly serving his country in the US Army. After being honorably discharged, he returned to Yale from Germany. He married Pam Hedge, having one daughter, Christine.

Johnny worked several jobs, as a machine operator at Mercury Marine, and welding at T&T Tank, and Skinner Tank, where an accident ended his career. He still managed a busy life. His passions were the lake, boating, camping, music, concerts, darts, drawing, building models, Chevys and Nascar. Most of all, his grandchildren filled his life.

He was proceeded in by his birth parents, JD and Utha Marie Welch, his adopted parents, Ralph Wayne and Beulah Fay Simpson, baby brother, Noble Lee Welch in 1950, Billy Simpson just 21 days earlier in the same hospital in Tulsa.

Johnny is survived by his daughter Christine Ladawn Ratliff, granddaughters Sierra and Shelby, and grandson Gavyn, all of Sand Springs, Oklahoma. Two brothers, Jimmy Welch and wife Trish, Thomas Simpson and wife Ladawn. Many nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Johnny had a very close friend, Garland Stiles, (that he called brother).

Visitation will be Friday, October 24, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Palmer Marler Funeral Home in Cushing, OK. Extended visitation will be Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

.