Fannie M. Martin Simison

Fannie M. Martin Simison, 83, of Shipshewana, died late Friday morning, October 5, 2007 at Goshen General Hospital.  She had been ill six weeks. She was born in Kokomo, Indiana, on November 17, 1923, to Fred and Nora (Bontrager) Otto.  She married Dale Avery Martin on January 11, 1947.  He died December 16, 1973.  She then married Jack Dudley Simison on June 6, 1981.  He died May 2004. Mrs. Simison worked for in the upholstery shop at Starcraft Marine in Topeka, retiring in 1979.  Prior to that she had worked at Kirt’s Cleaners in Goshen. She was a member of the First Church of God, Goshen, where she taught Sunday School and Bible School.  She enjoyed gardening.  She wintered in Texas. She is survived by a daughter, Sharylle Mundy of Goshen; three sons, Terry (Cindy) Martin of Bristol, Michael D. (Rose) Martin and Dennis J. (Kay) Martin, both of Shipshewana; a step-daughter, Christine (Bob) Fisher; and two step-sons, Rick (Wanda) Simison and Tim Simison, all of Warsaw.  Also surviving are nine grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Lewis (Katie) Otto and Floyd Otto, both of Middlebury, and Paul (Nancy) Otto of Topeka; a sister, Betty (Marvin) Yoder of Mendon, Michigan; and two half sisters, Martha (Elvie) Miller of Topeka and Clara (Levi) Bontrager of Goshen. She was preceded in death by her husbands; a sister, Edna Neal; a brother, Junior Otto; and a step-son, William Martin. Friends will be received 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, October 8 at the funeral home. A 10:00 a.m. funeral service will be conducted by Rev. Vernon Bontreger, on Tuesday, October 9, 2007, at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home. Burial will be in Violett Cemetery, Goshen. Memorial contributions may be made to United Cancer Services of Elkhart County.