Maurice Gene Jorn

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Maurice Gene Jorn, 75, of Jonesboro, passed from this life Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in East St. Louis, Ill., he was the son of the late Clarence Ivy and Margarite Jordan Jorn and was raised in St Louis, Mo. He was a 1957 graduate of Bethany Evangelical Lutheran High School in St. Louis and in 1991 earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in social work from Arkansas State University. As a younger man he owned and operated Gene's Transmission Shop in Valley View. Gene was a remote control model train and airplane enthusiast and enjoyed fishing as a pastime. He was also of the Baptist faith.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Alice Sue Jorn, in 2012; one son, Richard Delma Simpson II; one grandson, Richard Delma Simpson III, and three brothers.

Survivors include four sons, Dr. Ted Simpson and wife Janie of Los Angeles, Calif., Matthew Jorn and wife Mandy of St. Charles, Mo., Richard Jorn and wife Libby of Effingham, Ill., Phillip Jorn and wife Liz of Kirksville, Mo., AJ Jorn and wife Candice of Monette; two daughters, Beth Tipton and husband Larry of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Rebecca Veach and husband Mike of Bryant; 22 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were 1 p.m. Saturday in the Howard Funeral Service Chapel in Manila with Tom Mason officiating. Burial followed in the Manila Cemetery.

The family received visitors Saturday from noon until service time.

Online guest register: www.howardfuneralservice.com