Delphine May Simpson

Delphine (Del) May Novatney was born to John Novatney and Emily Crooks in Seattle because there were no hospitals in Yakutat, Alaska. Del joined her older sister, Jackie. Her father John was fisherman.

The Novatney family moved to Wrangell when Del and Jackie came of school age.

Their family moved to Albany, Oregon  where Del and Jackie graduated from High School. Del found her first secretarial job with a bean Packing Company in Oregon. Del later moved to Sacramento, California where she was secretary for a California County Reclamation Board.

Del’s adventurous spirit inspired her and her good friend Kathy Hildrey to move from Sacramento to Juneau.

Del met Erik Simpson and they married in Anchorage in 1968. Del was raised Catholic and Erik was raised Presbyterian. They were married by a Methodist minister in an Episcopal Church. Del worked for Jensen and Harris, a law firm. Erik worked for the Department of Labor.

Del and Erik moved to Nome where Erik managed the revenue field office. In 1970, Alicia was born in Nome. Del worked for Ed Glotfelty, City Manager, and for Judge Sanders with the Superior Court and Ed Spruce, manager with the Highway Department.

In 1993 they moved to Anchorage so they could be closer to the Simpson Family. Del worked for Director Berry Jackson as a purchasing agent. Erik worked as a Budget Officer in the Mayor’s office and as a Financing officer for the Behavioral Health Division, Municipality of Anchorage. She worked for the state of Alaska for 30 years which was a source of pride for her.

Del and Erik started and established the Olympic Orchards Society in 2003 where membership has now grown to over 75 members. Erik held orchard tours and seminars and participated in fruit shows. Del served as treasurer of Olympic Orchard Society for 10 years. Erik has served as president and as their program chairman. The Olympic Orchard Society has been an important part of their lives.

In 2016 Erik and Del joined the Unity Church in Port Angeles. With their different religious backgrounds, they could  now worship and praise God together in the Unity Church with others in love and light, with the promise for everlasting life and with good will to everyone.

Del died from an age related disease on Jan. 22, 2020 at Dungeness Courte Memory Care in Sequim, Washington. Del is survived by her daughter Alicia Paige of Port Angeles, her husband Erik Simpson of Sequim and her sister Jackie Moton of Virginia.

There will be a Celebration of Life to be announcesd at later date.

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