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Lawrence Olin Simpson Jr., 84, of Ocracoke, NC passed away suddenly on May, 6, 2020 in Wilmington, NC. He was born March.21,1936 at the Weather Station in Hatteras, NC to Lawrence O. Simpson and Sybil Burrus Simpson.

At a very young age, his father passed away and the family moved in with grandparents Lightkeeper Captain Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Burrus to the lighthouse at Ocracoke. His growing up at the lighthouse as a youth forever left a positive impression with him.

He graduated from Ocracoke School in 1954 and in September 1954 married Patsy Gaskins of Ocracoke. That November, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard. His carrier with the Coast Guard as aviation mechanic and Search and Rescue crewman spanned 20 years with seaplanes and helicopters. His duty stations included St. Petersburg, Fl., Bermuda, Savanah, Ga., Chicago, Ill. and three tours in Elizabeth City, NC before his retirement as Chief Petty Officer in December 1974. He enjoyed flying and was very proud of his service and his accomplishments.

He moved back home to Ocracoke after his retirement and began commercial fishing. In the early 1980s, he joined work at Cherry Point Air Rework Facility in Havelock, NC and moved to Beaufort, NC. After a number of years work at Cherry Point, he retired in the latter 1990s and moved back to Ocracoke again, at which time he enjoyed his boat and spending time out on the water. He also enjoyed riding his bike around Ocracoke, his cats and wild birds and shell collecting on the beach.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister Wanda Robinson. He is survived by two sons, Lawrence O. Simpson III of Kill Devil Hills,NC and John Simpson of Ocracoke, NC, along with five grandchildren in North Carolina, Missouri and Washington state, as well as a host of nephews, niece, cousins and extended family.

In keeping with his request, he was cremated and no service is scheduled at this time.

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