Anne (Vickery) Simpson 87 of Dennis died Thursday March 10, 2016 at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, in the company of her daughters and extended family.

Anne was born in Evansville, IN, the daughter of the late Cutler and Jeanie (Sonntag) Vickery. She was a graduate of St Margaret’s School in Scarsdale, NY and Wellesley College, class of 1950.

She moved to New York City, via Princeton NJ, and worked at the public relations firm of Ruder & Finn, and then at Payne Whitney Hospital.

Anne met her husband, James W. Simpson in New York, and they courted over the bridge table, marrying in 1959. He was an executive at B. Altman & Co. They had three children, two of whom survived and thrived, Marcia Simpson Brose of Bryn Mawr, PA, and Diane Simpson Tompkins of San Rafael, CA.

Anne worked at The Episcopal School, and was Executive Secretary of the Church Club of New York for 25 years, retiring in 1999.

After Jim’s death in 1995, Anne retired to Cape Cod and built the house they had designed together. In so doing, she demonstrated the remarkable resourcefulness, strength and independence that she was known and loved for.

Anne also had a keen sense of adventure, visiting 38 countries and six continents in her lifetime. She traveled by train, boat, tuk-tuk, elephant, Jeep, canal barge, plane and cruise ship—reveling in whatever culture she was exploring. Many thought her experience getting appendicitis in Chengdu, China would sideline her but Anne traveled to two more continents after that, returning with countless stories.

Anne had fun keeping her mind sharp doing daily Sudokus, the NY Times crossword puzzle, and watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.

Her life on the Cape had deep roots. In her youth she attended Camp Cotuit and Camp Wono. She spent four decades at Eldred’s auction gallery, where she was the in-house order bidder and fondly known as “Our Mrs. Simpson #362.” Most recently, she was a loyal volunteer at the Dennis Memorial Library and Eventide theater, and throughout has been a devoted parishioner at St. Mary’s Church in Barnstable, where Anne volunteered on the finance office, as a liturgical participant, and delivered meals to those less fortunate in the community.

Her daughters and grandchildren were the pride of her life, and to say she will be sorely missed is an understatement. In her many roles as mother, grandmother, Nan-Nan, loyal friend and community volunteer, Anne set a inspiring example of how to live a full, vibrant and generous life—on her own terms.

In addition to her daughters, Anne is survived by four grandchildren, Julie and Andrew Brose and Treya and Bodhi Tompkins; and the children of her siblings, Kate Wallace Rogers, David Wallace, Derby Wallace, Katherine Halsey, Bill Vickery, James Vickery III and their families. In addition to her husband and parents, she is predeceased by a sister, Marcia Vickery Wallace and a brother, James C. Vickery, Jr.

A Memorial Service and celebration her life will be held at 2 p.m. Monday April 11 in St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 3055 Main St., Barnstable.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church Miracle Kitchen Program, P.O. Box 395, Barnstable, MA 02630 or to the Dennis Memorial Library, 1020 Old Bass River Road, Dennis, MA 02638.

You leave a trail of remarkable stories and deep impact on those you loved and those who loved you. Thank you for sharing your gifts, energy and perspective with the world. I am most honored to have been inspired by your take on life and your true vitality. Your legacy lives on in big and small ways-- whenever I am facing options I tend to say to myself or whomever is present: "Let's review the bidding" a phrase inspired by you passed on through Di. I know there are card tables in heaven and that the games are now much more lively with you there! All my love, lex

Dear Anne You will be missed by many including your New York upstairs neighbors..You are fondly remembered and loved. Both you and Jim were amazing parents. Resulting in two amazing daughters.. Love remembered Bobbi and Tony