Betty Simpson, longtime civic leader on Fort Myers Beach, dies
Betty Simpson, who was one of the first chairs of the Town of Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency, and who was a longtime leader in the town’s civic and community affairs after incorporation, died this afternoon.
Simpson served on the town’s incorporation committee 30 years ago, taking an active role in the town’s vote and pursuit of incorporation, and then actively participated in its formation and early organization.
As recently as May, Simpson was still serving on the town’s Cultural and Environmental Learning Center Advisory Board (CELCAB).
Simpson had previously chaired the town’s Bay Oaks Recreational Advisory Board, served on the Fort Myers Beach Public Library Board and was a former Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District Commissioner, and was one of the instrumental figures behind the town’s acquisition of the Mound House, among many other roles. Simpson was also involved in a number of local civic organizations.
Simpson had recently attended the town’s reopening of the Fort Myers Beach Public Library, an institution that she long supported through her service on the Friends of the Library Board.
A retired Realtor, Simpson was originally from South Dakota. Her daughter Julie Davis Hull announced Simpson’s death on Facebook. Simpson had been ill in recent weeks, according to Hull.
Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency Chair Anita Cereceda said Simpson played a leading role in the town, particularly during the town’s formative years. Cereceda said Simpson may have attended more town council meetings than almost any other person in the town’s history.
“She is somebody who had such an impact on the community, somebody who was in integral part of our community,” Cereceda said. Cereceda said Simpson’s impact on the community was so large that “it can’t be measured.”
Cereceda said she had seen Simpson a times in the last couple weeks before her death. “It’s just sad to lose somebody like Betty,” Cereceda said. “She always had a smile on her face.”
Cereceda said that Simpson was “a very good friend to me.” Cereceda said that Simpson was always straight-forward when giving advice.
Cereceda said that Simpson played an active role in looking out for the community’s interests before and after incorporation through her contacts around the county. “She was a dynamic, energetic mover and shaker,” Cereceda said.
Simpson also helped begin a tradition on Fort Myers Beach on the first day of the town’s incorporation on Jan. 1, 1996, passing out cupcakes that she and other members of the town’s incorporation committee made. The tradition would continue for decades at Times Square, as dozens of cupcakes were handed out to visitors at Times Square.
“Betty was at every opening, every function. Not to see her is going to be really strange,” Cereceda said.
Hull announced that viewing will be held Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Shikany’s Funeral Home, 28300 South Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs. A mass of christian burial will be held this Friday at 2:30 p.m. at St. Leo Catholic Church, 28290 Beaumont Road, Bonita Springs, Florida. A celebration of life will follow on Friday at 4 p.m. at St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church Hall on 5601 Williams Drive in Fort Myers Beach.