Kathy Jo Simpson

Kathy Jo Fontenot Simpson, 65, of Silsbee, was born on January 10, 1956, to Aubrey James Fontenot and Dorothy Fay Biddle Fontenot.  Kathy was her mother’s pride and joy and was a devoted and caring daughter throughout her life.  Kathy took her heavenly flight home on Wednesday, September 29, 2021.  We take comfort in knowing that although she is absent from her body, she is now present with the Lord, our Savior.  One of the final things Kathy said to several of us before she was hospitalized was, “Jesus has always been with me, and He’ll be with me through this, too”.  Kathy knew where her help came from, and she spoke of her faith with assurance.

Kathy served as the Court Clerk for Justice of the Peace Como for over twelve and a half years.  Upon his retirement, she ran and was successfully elected as Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2 in 1993.  She took office in January of 1994 and served until her retirement in 2014.  During her years as JP, she valued the relationships she developed with the residents of the county, friends at the courthouse, fellow judges and their clerks, deputies, and especially with her close friend and court clerk, Carolyn.  We could always be certain that around Thanksgiving time, the phone calls would begin as she started to invite, rather forcefully, everyone to the Thanksgiving Feast at the JP office.

Although she loved her job, her true joy came from her family.  She always regretted having to work so many hours and missing so many things when Heath was growing up, so she made it her mission to never miss a game, ceremony, school program, Grandparents’ Day lunch, or any other special days in Cole or Kade’s lives.  She was the true definition of a loving and devoted grandmother, and her absence will forever be felt.

One word can be used to describe Kathy, constant.  She was constant in who she was and in all she did.  She was the mother, grandmother, niece, cousin, coworker, and friend who would be there in an instant, rain or shine, day or night.  Her love was shown in her actions, and we will miss her persistent phone calls, the food she made with love, her sweet generosity, and her self-sacrificing spirit.

She is survived by her only son, Heath; two grandsons, Cole and Kade; and a host of family and friends whom she cherished dearly.  Kathy is preceded in death by her parents and infant brother, Ricky James Fontenot.

A gathering of Kathy’s family and friends will be 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Saturday, October 2, 2021, at Broussard’s, 490 Cemetery Road, Silsbee.  Her funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, October 3, 2021, at Broussard’s, with her interment to follow at Resthaven Cemetery, Silsbee.

Please observe social distancing guidelines. By attending any public event you are acknowledging the risk of exposure to the Corona Virus. Please follow the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control: cdc.gov