Diane Simpson

Diane Bari Lawhon Simpson, 61, of Smithville, Mo., went to be with her Lord and Savior, February 24, 2005, after a prolonged illness.

She was born on November 25, 1943 on Thanksgiving Day to Peter, Jr. and Rowene (Ritchie) May in Kansas City, Mo. She grew up in Kansas City and in 1961 graduated from North Kansas City High School.

Diane was an excellent artist, calligrapher, and a great bowler. Her middle name was taken from the town of Bari, Italy, where her father was on the day she was born.

She was preceded in death by her father, step-father, Otha ?Nick? Nichols, and nephew, Casey McCroskie.

Diane is survived by, loved and will be missed by her children, Donald Lawhon, Jr., Smithville, Mo., and Lori Petit, Kearney, Mo., Charles Lawhon, Kansas City, Mo., her mother, Rowene Nichols, Smithville, Mo., brothers, Peter May III, Smithville, Mo., Jon May, Kansas City, Mo., sisters, Barbra McCroskie, North Kansas City, Mo, Janeice Turner, Smithville, Mo., and Laurie Allen, Kansas City, Mo.

Diane ?MoMo? had eight grandchildren she loved and adored, Zachery Hardick, Vince Lawhon, Nicole Petit, Sami Jo Petit, Joedy Petit, Jr., Dominic Petit, Jennifer Lawhon, and Jacob Lawhon, several aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, grand nieces and nephews who all loved her.

Funeral Services: 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 1st at the Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Smithville.
Burial: I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Smithville.
Visitation: 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Donations may be made to the Alzheimer?s Foundation.