Gladys Marie Simpson

Gladys Marie Simpson, born to Don and Eula Lee Cortez on March 9, 1939, in Lovington, NM, began her journey to her eternal home on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. She spent 87 years as matriarch to her adoring family. She was such a joy; being in her presence brought light and warmth.

She spent her life creating beautiful memories with her family, showering them with love, and showing everyone she knew how to lead a life well-lived.

Gladys loved to be surrounded by people, vacationing in her mountain home with all her grandkids, hosting family reunions, and renting large family cabins in Ruidoso, so that the entire family could be together cooking, joking, laughing, telling stories, and creating memories that will last us a lifetime. Her family truly believed she could make it rain when she would get out in the yard singing her Indian chants with her rain stick. She would try to make the grandkids believers that she could keep them in line when she would jump up to show them all her newest karate moves. She rarely ever missed a Sunday where she didn’t have delicious home-cooked meals ready on the table for an army. There is nothing like Sunday dinner at Granny’s, and oh, how she loved karaoke night out in her yard where she would have the whole family dress up for the event and she would sing all her old, country favorites. She created paintings, photographs, and the most gorgeous gardens with God’s hands. Everything she touched was a work of art. Many of her photographs won ribbons at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo each year. Most importantly, she led by example when she taught her family how to love one another and be each other’s support through the journey of life. Her home was like a little cottage of comfort and love to everyone that entered there. It was home.

She will be welcomed into those gates of Heaven by her husband, Roy Simpson, her sisters, Delores and Patricia, and her grandchildren, Chad Simpson and Alaina Simpson. She is survived by her son, Steve Simpson and wife Judy, son, Keith Simpson and wife Melissa, and daughter, Karla Quimby; grandchildren, Margaret Portillo and husband Michael, Jeff Simpson and wife Sloan, Justin Baggett, Brandon Baggett, Lacreesha Martinez and husband Adam, and Darren Quimby and finance Margie, many cherished great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; brother Don Ray Cortez and wife Joyce, brother, Gerry Cortez, sisters Anita and Sheila, her spoiled fur babies (the favorites of the family), Jake and Rio, and an infinite, beautiful list of other cherished loved ones.