Mary Deloris (McVicker) SIMKINS

MCVICKER, SIMKINS, BADLEY, SCHRADER, WARDRIP, PETERSON, KLINE, MAYNE, PEPPMEIER, CAMPBELL, FRIDAY, SCHMIDT

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/2/2013 at 13:10:38

January 24, 1921 --- March 31, 2013

Mary Deloris "Dory" (McVicker) Simkins was born January 24, 1921 in Eagle Grove, Iowa, the fourth child of Cassius Virgil and Lydia Anne (Badley) McVicker. After graduating from Eagle Grove High School she taught elementary school for 10 years in Troy Township. Deloris graduated at the age of 17, so she had to wait a while before she started teaching. Her first year of teaching she had 22 pupils in nine grades, and her salary was $65/mo.

She started working at the Eagle Grove post office in the 1940s, earning 65¢ an hour. She worked her way up the ranks and served as postmaster at Eagle Grove for many years. Deloris also cared for her mother for many years and after the death of her mother in 1963, she became an "Honorary Grandmother" to her nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren.

Deloris married Clifford Simkins on March 16, 1974 in Eagle Grove, Iowa. Clifford passed away on September 9, 2000. She spent her entire life in the Eagle Grove area until moving to Ft. Dodge in 2010. She enjoyed traveling, hunting, fishing, camping, spending time with her extended family, antiques and entertaining in her home. Deloris was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, White Shrine, D.A.R., Neighborhood Club, Antique Study Club, Troy Culture Club, and United Methodist Women, where she held a district office several times. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Eagle Grove, IA her entire life.

Deloris, 92, of Eagle Grove, passed away Sunday, March 31, 2013, at Paula J. Baber Hospice Home in Ft. Dodge, IA. She was also preceded in death by her parents; sister and brother-in-law, Rosetta & Frederick Schrader; brother, Lawrence McVicker; sister and brother-in-law, Irene & Ray Wardrip; sister and brother-in-law, LaVonne & Phillip Peterson; niece, Maryann McVicker and nephew, Roger Schrader. Survivors include: Step-son, Stephen (Donna) Simkins, step-grandson, Clayton Simkins, step-granddaughter, Carter Simkins, all of Sturgeon, MO. Deloris was very close to all her nieces and nephews: Karen Kline, Janice Peppmeier, Patricia Campbell, Shellie Mayne, Kenneth Wardrip, Susan Friday, Shari Peterson, Marilyn Peterson, and Margaret Schmidt, who all have fond memories of spending time on the farm with Aunt Dory where she taught them to bottle feed the lambs, drive the Farmall tractor and swing on the old bag swing. She is also survived by 17 great-nieces and nephews, and 21 great-great nieces and nephews, sister-in-law, Gladys McVicker of Milford, IA, and her special cat, "Kitty".

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday April 3, 2013, 1:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Eagle Grove with Pastor Mike Agnew officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to service times at the church. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Eagle Grove. Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.

Foust Funeral Home - Eagle Grove, Iowa