Mary Anne Rice Simpson, 79, passed away at the Lawrence County Manor in Mount Vernon, Missouri on Friday, June 22, 2012 where she had been a resident for 12 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Max and Mildred Rice. She is survived by her husband, George Simpson; son, John Robert of Springfield; sister, Ellen Rice Dempsey and her husband, Michael of Waterford, Michigan; nephews, Brian, Chris and Tom Dempsey; and an aunt, Wilma Baker of Joplin. Mary Anne was a graduate of the 1950 Central High School class. She received a BS degree from Southwest Missouri State College where she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Orchesis Dance Group, Pi Omega Pi, Alpha Psi Omega and Commercial Club. She was honored in the 1967 publication of Outstanding Young Women in America. Mary Anne's teaching career included Tri City High School in Buffalo, Ill, Carthage and Rolla Missouri High Schools, Instructor at Missouri State College, and graduate teaching assistant at Louisiana State University where she received a MS degree. Her early years were devoted to her great love of dance. She taught dance, produced dance programs and participated in dance productions one of which was the college theatre production of Oklahoma. Memorial services will be Friday, July 13, 2012 at 4:00 pm in Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel. Visitation will precede the service from 2:00 to 4:00 pm in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations, in her name, be made to The Lawrence County Manor at 915 Carl Allen Street in Mt. Vernon, Missouri 65712 or the Mental Health Association of your choice.