Obituary of Florayne Joyce Simonson

Florayne Joyce Simonson, 95, of Duluth went home to meet the Lord Saturday, March 4, 2017. She was a woman of deep faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and found comfort, peace, and joy in knowing Him and His Word. Florayne was born Oct. 24, 1921 in Duluth. She graduated with honors from Denfeld High School in 1940. Upon graduating from business school, she worked for the government in Washington, D.C. as part of the war effort. There, she married Lyle Simonson in 1942 and they eventually settled in Hermantown, where they raised their eight children. Later she was employed as secretary/bookkeeper for the Laborers' Local 1091 in Duluth. She was an integral leader of the Duluth Chapter of Women's Aglow at its inception. She served as PTA president for Hermantown School for several years. For her community service, Florayne received the City of Duluth's annual Volunteer Woman of the Year Award in 1979. She volunteered for the Meals on Wheels Program as well as the local hospitals. Florayne was a prolific writer, poet and editor, and was published in Guide Post magazine, the Lutheran publication Scope, Duluth News Tribune and the Hermantown Star. She was also an avid reader and loved the written word. She was a talented public speaker and made local TV appearances. Florayne loved people, music, dancing, travel, walking, bowling, picking berries, canoeing, swimming and the family cabins on Bassett Lake and Lake Nichols. She actively enjoyed life to the fullest, well into her 90s. She was a hilarious storyteller and her stories brought laughter and joy to many. Her gift of hospitality, generous spirit and wonderful wit will be missed by all who knew her. Florayne was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Dyana, husband Lyle Simonson, and sister Phyllis Englund. She is survived by seven children, Gary (Bobbie), Craig (Diana), Sharon (Mark Hazzard), Bradley, Randy (Ann), Karyn (Steve Danielson), and Kris; 17 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The family thanks the staff at North Shore Estates for their compassionate care of our Wonderful Mother. VISITATION: 11 a.m. until the 12 p.m. funeral service Thursday, March 16 in Gethsemane Covenant Church, 4479 Ugstad Road, Hermantown.