Margaret Ann (Love) Simonson
October 6, 1931 - September 9, 2021
Margaret Ann (Love) Simonson, 89, lifelong resident of Clay County, Indiana, passed away peacefully in her home on September 9, 2021 surrounded by loving family.
Margaret Ann was born on October 6, 1931, in Knightsville, Indiana, the daughter of William and Mary E. (Wallace) Love. She graduated from Van Buren High School with the class of 1949 and then took banking courses for the following two years. She married Robert R. Simonson on December 29, 1950. Margaret Ann worked her entire life in Brazil, Indiana. She began her banking career at Pell’s Sentinel Savings and Loan which later became First Federal Savings and Loan where she served as President for thirteen years prior to beginning as Executive Vice President at Riddell National Bank. She retired in 2000 after many dedicated years of service. She remained a member of the Riddell National Bank Board of Directors until 2019.
Margaret Ann loved her family and especially treasured the many family gatherings through the years. Some of her very favorite times were when she and her brothers, sister, and family members of all ages gathered around the dining table to enjoy the most delicious homemade food ever, and shared stories of childhood memories while growing up in such loving yet poor conditions while always making the best of what life brought along the way.
Margaret Ann seemed to think that no matter where she may have been, it was always her duty to make sure that everything was done just right and to meet her expectations and approval while teaching, guiding, and directing anyone needing her help. She took great pride in assuring that everyone was behaving properly and being respectful of themselves and each other. From a very young age, Margaret Ann proudly reigned as “The Queen” in her family (and elsewhere, too) and all who knew and loved her throughout her life always devotedly honored her with gratitude and love for the privilege of doing so!
Margaret Ann had a heart full of kindness, care, compassion, and love for everyone she met regardless of their place in life. Her sincerity and interest in the well-being of others allowed her to share many treasured and lifelong friendships that brought her great joy through the years. She faithfully and graciously loved her friends as if they were her family. Her friends knew that she loved them and they always expressed their gratitude to her for the treasured friendships and love they shared together.
Margaret Ann’s ever-present grace, gratitude, inner and outer beauty, elegance, strength, hard work, and dedication inspired all and especially women to aspire to greater heights in life by setting goals and working hard to achieve them without allowing anyone or anything to get in their way. She was an outstanding example of the results of determination and dedication to what was most important in life: speaking up and always doing the right things for the right reasons, helping others no matter what their “place” in life may be, and always, always, always being thankful for life’s abundant blessings all along the way.
Margaret Ann will be greatly missed by all who admired, treasured, and loved her so very, very much and by those blessed to be so graciously loved by her.
Margaret Ann had attended the Brazil First United Methodist Church and Ebenezer Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents William and Mary Love, her husband Robert Simonson; and her brothers: Lester Love in infancy, Donald Love, David Love, Thomas Love, Warren L. Love, William Love, James E. Love, Melvin D. “Jack” Love, sister Mildred Calista Love Chaney, and several nieces and nephews.
Margaret Ann is survived by nieces Sharon Love Nauert (John) and Joyce Love Richard, Indianapolis, Indiana; Darla Love Laymon (Norman), Sterling Heights, Michigan; Rena Valentine, Plainfield, Indiana; Nina Love, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Mary Hyatt, Center Point, Indiana; Roberta Turner (Brian), Canberra, Australia; and Janet Love Trout (Sam), Brazil, Indiana; Sherri Simonson (Melbourne, Florida); and nephews David William Love, Brazil, Indiana; and Keith Simonson, Terre Haute, Indiana. Margaret Ann is survived by several great nieces and nephews and many treasured, faithful, and loving friends. With gratitude and love, Margaret Ann was able to remain in her own home because of the wonderful care she received from Tonya Hatton and Robin Timberman, her faithful and devoted caregivers.
Visitation will be on Sunday, September 12, 2021 from noon until 2:00pm at French Funeral Home, 421 E. National Ave. Brazil, Indiana 47834. Services will be held at the funeral home on Sunday at 2:00pm. Burial will follow at Calcutta Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice in Margaret Ann’s memory.
Visit www.frenchfuneralhome.com to light a candle in her memory.
