Obituary of Myrna J. Simpson

Myrna J. Craig Simpson, 73 passed away June 5, 2011 at Chardonnay Assisted Living in Twin Falls. Myrna was born May 1, 1938 in Twin Falls, Idaho to Elmer Craig and Oriel Bohannon Craig. Her father, Elmer Craig was a civilian employee of the United States Navy during World War II, working in Ammunition Depots in Hawthorne, Nevada and Hastings, Nebraska. After the war they lived on Bainbridge Island, Washington on the Westinghouse Estate where Elmer was a caretaker. The family came back to Idaho in 1950 to Oriel’s hometown where Myrna graduated from Jerome High School in 1957. Myrna’s first career was with Mountain States Telephone Company. She married Fritz Rork while living in Twin Falls and they were later divorced. She began a successful career with Transamerica Financial Corporation for 24 years. She became the first woman in 1972 to be named into the senior branch management. When she became manager the branch grew to 10 times its size. She did credit counseling; she also wrote and directed radio programs on credit. She lectured at Northwest Nazarene College on management and consumer credit. Myrna was a member of the Morrison Center Auxiliary, Nampa High School Advisory Board, and various Mercy Hospital committees. She was a member of the Nampa Chapter of Business Women’s Association where she was president. In 1983 she was selected as “Woman of the Year”. She chaired the Metropolitan Planning Committee for two years while obtaining the land from the Idaho State School and Hospital for the Centennial Golf Course. Myrna married Marvin Simpson who was a contractor in Boise. She retired from Transamerica Financial Services and started a new career in Interior Design. She and Marvin later divorced. She acquired a step-son Stevie Simpson whom she was extremely fond of and the only child she ever had. She was preceded in death by her father Elmer Craig and her mother Oriel Bohannon Craig, a nephew, Brad Craig, a niece, Valerie Craig, a niece, Morgan Trujillo and a nephew, Chance Craig. Myrna is survived by her sister, Maxine Rowbottom, niece Pam Jones (Ron) and niece Joan Rowbottom, brother LeRoy Craig (Joyce), niece Jody Tremblay (Mike), niece JuLee Mecham (Jay), nephew Bryan Craig, nephew Barrett Craig (Rachel) and many great nieces and nephews and also many wonderful friends in Boise and Twin Falls who have seen her through this difficult journey (Pancreatic Cancer). Special thanks also to the people at Prestwick Apartments in Jerome. Also to Maggie Rivas, Chardonnay Assisted Living in Twin Falls and Hospice Visions of Twin Falls for their loving care and concern. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, June 10, 2011 at Rosenau Funeral Home, Twin Falls. In celebration of Myrna’s life, memorials may be made to the Brad Craig Scholarship fund or Chance Craig Scholarship Fund C/O College of Southern Idaho, P.O. Box 1238, Twin Falls, ID 83303 or to the Charity of your choice. Family and friends are encouraged to share their thoughts and memories of Myrna at www.rosenaufuneralhome.com