Gladys Oletia (Johnson) Simpson (1938 - 2021)

Ancestors

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early Life 1.2 Marriage and Early Family Life 1.3 Remarriage and Relocation 1.4 Later Life 1.5 DNA Confirmation 2 Sources

Biography

Gladys Oletia Johnson left her family and friends for a new life in the west. Her foundation of hard work and family carried her through challenging times.

Early Life

Oletia with a chicken at schoolhouse, ca. 1942

Letia (her preferred name) was born on the 9th of May 1938 to Lindell Johnson and Mildred (Pike) Johnson^[1] and was raised in rural Dyer County Tennessee for the first years of her life. Her father's family were long-time Tennessee residents, and her mother's family had roots in Virginia and Kentucky, most recently living in Arkansas. Times were hard for the Johnson family and the family struggled to make ends meet. One of the early family homes was a school building on 78 Highway. She told her daughter that for Christmas she received an orange and candy in her stocking. One year she received a doll. After her brother Billy started working, he bought her a red sweater which she wore until the cuffs came up to her elbows.^[2]

In 1940 the Johnson family lived in Dyersburg, Dyer County, Tennessee and Letia's father cut wood to make money.^[3] In later years, Letia's father worked for the nearby cotton mill, building their house by buying a little lumber with every paycheck. The family participated in the Assembly of God church, and many of Letia's memories of her childhood related to church activities.^[2] By 1950, thirteen people lived in two houses on the Johnson property, including Letia's parents, siblings, a niece and a nephew, an uncle, a cousin and her paternal grandmother.^[4]

For additional memories about her early life, see the profile of her older brother, Dawson Eugene Johnson (1936-2023).

Marriage and Early Family Life

Von and Letia at the Tonto Ruin on their honeymoon, October 1955.

Letia met Alvon (Von) Davis while she was in her final year of high school and he was stationed nearby with the Navy. They married on the 8th of October 1955 in Hernando, DeSoto County, Mississippi and Letia dropped out of school for a new life.^[5] On their honeymoon, the young couple drove to Arizona to meet Von's parents. Letia's only other trip outside of Tennessee had been a visit to Florida to see her sister. She marvelled at the sights as the couple crossed the country, and asked to go swimming in the lake, which turned out to be a mirage. Letia quickly became close to the Davis family and was soon calling her in-laws Mom and Dad. She was certain they thought she was “a real hick” when Von brought her home.^[2] The couple soon found themselves apart as Von needed to report to Kodiak Island, Alaska to the Navy base. Letia stayed with Walt and Edna Davis in Ritzville, Washington, experiencing a northern winter.^[6] She travelled on the family transport ship, leaving from Seattle, Washington. Letia's arrival was reported in the base newspaper on 27 January 1956.^[7]

On Kodiak, the young couple square danced, attended card parties and numerous movies, since Von was a projectionist at the base theater. Letia worked hard to lose her southern accent because everyone thought it was “cute.” It was also her first experience in an integrated environment and she quickly made friends. She also earned her GED since she had left school before graduation. Von and Letia had a dog, Skimo, and enjoyed fishing.

Letia Davis wearing the Junior Miss cape she made

After Von's tour of duty was complete, they moved to Arizona, where their first child, a son, was born. Connie followed 16 months and 16 days later. Von and his brother Leslie were engaged in the crop dusting business (Davis Aerial Service) with their father, with both Les and Von learning to fly. The family moved to Washington state in 1960 when Connie was 6 weeks old. They were active in the local JayCees and Letia helped with the Junior Miss pageant. Letia frequently helped out with the business and was involved in the children's school activities. The family lived in Washington for most of the year in the home the couple purchased on the south hill in Colfax and moved to Arizona throughout the summer months to help with the Arizona branch of the business. Letia adapted to the transient lifestyle, making a home for her family in a variety of hotels and small apartments in Arizona.^[8] Letia helped in the business, standing in fields and flagging for the planes.^[2] Alvon was killed in an airplane crash in 1968.^[9]

Remarriage and Relocation

After Von’s death, Letia declined invitations from her family to return to Tennessee and went to work for the local radio station and was an Avon representative, her first jobs outside the home. She adapted to single parent life, taking her children to a Davis family reunion in California and flying to Arizona for Christmas. Mutual friends introduced her to Tom Simpson, who was then teaching 7th and 8th grade at Colfax Elementary School. They married in August of 1969. The couple sold the house near the radio station and bought 807 South Main, a three-bedroom home with turn of the century beginnings, high ceilings, cedar-lined closets and oak floors.^[10] Tom and Letia had a son in 1971. Tom continued to teach until 1976 when his father retired from farming. After Connie Davis graduated from high school in 1978, Tom and Letia sold their home in Colfax and moved to the Simpson farm on Rock Lake, near Pine City, Washington.

Oletia Simpson at the Simpson Ranch, 1981

Letia adopted the duties of a farm woman, driving truck, helping with haying, cattle and all aspects of the operation. Tom and Letia were active with 4-H during their son's school years and Letia helped with the local Junior Miss program, a project she had also been active in as part of the JayCees in Colfax. She contributed to the community quilt project of the Ewan's Neighbor's Club. Letia and Tom were active in the Kenova Grange and she belonged to the Daughters of the Nile. Letia often spent time with her grandchildren when they lived on Vashon Island, King County, Washington.^[2]

Applique Wall Quilt by Oletia Simpson

Later Life

In 2004 Letia was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent surgery. After chemotherapy and radiation, she slowly returned to her usual activities. In 2005, Tom and Letia moved into Saint John and bought a home on Liberty Street.^[11] Letia enjoyed her family and community throughout her later years as she became frail. Tom provided devoted care.

For her 83rd birthday, Letia's daughter and son collaborated on a video, Tennessee Girl, about her life and family history.

Letia passed away on 15 May 2021 at her home in Saint John and was buried in the Pine City Cemetery.^[12][13]

Letia was the only one of her siblings to permanently leave Tennessee, experiencing life in the west. She carried on her family legacy of strength through hard times.

DNA Confirmation

Father and mother confirmed.
“DNA Match” for Oletia (Johnson) Davis Simpson, (Ancestry.com : accessed 14 February 2022), estimated relationship sibling, genealogical relationship sibling with [Private] descendant of Lindell Johnson and Mildred Pike sharing 2606 cM across 56 segments (largest segment 196 cM), MRCA Lindell Johnson and Mildred Pike.

“DNA Match” for Oletia (Johnson) Davis Simpson, (Ancestry.com : accessed 14 February 2022), estimated relationship sibling, genealogical relationship sibling with [Private] descendant of Lindell Johnson and Mildred Pike sharing 2476 cM across 50 segments (largest segment 164 cM), MRCA Lindell Johnson and Mildred Pike.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Certificate of Gladys Oletia Johnson, 9 May 1938, Dyersburg, Dyer County, Tennessee, File no 20026, photocopy of original issued 30 Dec 1997, held by Connie Davis.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} "Family stories told to Connie Davis by her mother, Oletia Simpson.
3. ↑ 1940 U.S. Census, Dyer County, Tennessee, population schedule, Dyersburg City, enumeration district (ED) 23-11, sheet 61A (penned), line 28, Lindel L. Johnson household; digital image, FamilySearch (FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89M1-D97K : accessed 25 August 2021]); citing NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 03890.
4. ↑ 1950 U.S. Census, Dyer County, Tennessee, population schedule, Dyersburg, enumeration district (ED) 23-9, sheet 8 (penned), family 86, Lindell S. Johnson household; digital image, FamilySearch (FamilySearch Image: 3QHK-9QHW-GQK4 : accessed 10 December 2023); citing NARA microfilm publication T628.
5. ↑ “Alvon H. Davis and Oletia Johnson marriage certificate,” 8 Oct 1955, Hernando, DeSoto County, MS, Book 112, page 581, original provided by Oletia Simpson, held in 1994 by Connie Davis.
6. ↑ Edna (Workman) Davis, “Memoirs,” written before 1980, original held since 1994 by Connie Davis, transcribed in 1996 by Connie Davis.
7. ↑ “Dependent families arrive on MSTS transport O’Hara,” Kodiak Bear, Kodiak, Kodiak Island Co., AK, 27 Jan 1956, unknown page, photocopy of clipping provided by Oletia Simpson, held since 1994 by Connie Davis.
8. ↑ Personal knowledge of Connie Davis
9. ↑ “Alvon Hale Davis death certificate,” 30 Aug 1968, Elfrida, Cochise Co., AZ, certified copy issued 16 Sep 1968, held in 1994 by Connie Davis.
10. ↑ Personal knowledge of Connie Davis
11. ↑ Personal knowledge of Connie Davis
12. ↑ "Oletia Simpson," obituary, Bruning Funeral Home (Colfax, Washington), 17 May 2021, (online obituary: accessed 17 May 2021).
13. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (Find A Grave: Memorial #227276183 : accessed 30 August 2022), memorial 227276183, Gladys Oletia Johnson Simpson, (1938-2021), gravestone photographed by JKSCA, citing Pine City Cemetery, Pine City, Whitman County, Washington.