Eileen "Mikki" Simpson

Eileen "Mikki" Simpson, 79, a lifelong educator of the deaf, died Monday, May 25, at Grace Ridge Retirement Community. Born in the Bronx, New York City, she was the daughter of the late George McVey

Eileen "Mikki" Simpson, 79, a lifelong educator of the deaf, died Monday, May 25, at Grace Ridge Retirement Community. Born in the Bronx, New York City, she was the daughter of the late George McVey and Dorothy Smith. Mrs. Simpson is survived by her husband of 51 years, William "Bill" Simpson, and sons Kevin M. Simpson of Washington, DC, and Scott Simpson of Morganton. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Jay McVey. Ms. Simpson, who was deaf, received her undergraduate degree from Augustana College in Illinois, took teacher training at Gallaudet University in 1954 and 1955 and received a Masters from the California State University at Northridge ("CSUN") in 1974.After beginning her teaching career at the Louisiana School for the Deaf, she moved to Morganton in 1957 to teach at the North Carolina School for the Deaf. Mrs. Simpson also worked at CSUN for a year as a guidance counselor before returning to NCSD to work in a variety of teaching and administrative positions until her retirement in 1994. In 1984, she was honored as Educator of the Year by the Southeast Regional Institute on Deafness.Mrs. Simpson was active in a variety of community activities and nonprofit organizations at the local, state and national level, including the National Association of the Deaf (where she served on the board), the NC Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and the Gallaudet University Alumni Association. She was named the first female president of the NC Association of the Deaf in 1981. She was also a licensed lay reader in the Episcopal Church.The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 6, 2009 at Grace Episcopal Church with the Rev. Bruce Walker officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Columbarium behind the church. After the services, a reception will follow in the parish hall. Memorial contributions may be made to Gallaudet University, Development Office, 800 Florida Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002 or to the NCSD Museum Fund, PO Box 2681, Morganton, NC 28680. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.