Marijo Simpson

Marijo Simpson
August 29, 1957 ~ May 24, 2024 (age 66)

We lost our beloved Marijo, wife, mother, dear friend, and inspiration to so many on May 24th, 2024 after a brief illness. She was 66 years old. Our family has been touched by the outpouring of support and love from the community.

Marijo grew up in Richmond, Virginia with deeply cherished summers spent in nature at nearby Camp Hanover where she would later be married. She attended the University of Virginia, where she obtained a BA in Religious Studies and BS in Nursing, and met her husband Kevin, beginning 42 years of marriage in 1982. Marijo and Kevin moved to Asheville in 1989 with their young son Jordan; Sophia would be born shortly thereafter. Marijo took tremendous pride in the raising and community homeschooling of her children. She was the foundation of a home full of love for her family in Asheville.

Marijo had a deep appreciation for folk art, and was a lifelong craft artist. She thrived in creative spaces of "making" and was compelled by the focus, beauty, and self-expression she found in her work. Over the years Marijo experimented with many materials in her art, and explored new techniques as part of her dance with craft, including ceramics, upholstery, and fiber arts. She found joy in quilting for others. In 2023, Marijo completed an Associate Degree in Professional Crafts at Haywood Community College, where she focused on jewelry and metalsmithing, and launched her business "Third Act Jewelry".

Marijo had a deep connection to the natural world and cultivated several native plant and pollinator gardens and a pond. When gardening, she often collaborated with two of her closest friends, Bebe Tarleton and George Carter, creating a small oasis around her home. She loved to hike and camp, spending hundreds of nights outdoors exploring national parks and BLM lands in the west in a truck camper with Kevin. She was always drawn back to the high deserts of the southwest, especially Navaholand, finding happiness when hiking in the canyon country of Utah and Canyonlands National Park.

Marijo had a genuine openness and easy availability to others, inviting deep relationships with so many throughout her life. She had a penetrating intellect, fed a curious mind, nurtured strong and independent opinions, enjoyed discussing history and politics during long walks, and was a strong advocate for women‟s rights. She had a lifelong interest in Buddhism, and supported many Buddhist teaching initiatives in Asheville in the 1990s, including welcoming Tibetan monks to Asheville in 1993. At her core, Marijo was also a dedicated educator and spent six years teaching young women at the Hanger Hall School for Girls in Asheville. In her passing, Marijo leaves behind a beautiful legacy of loving relationships, art, and teachings that we continue to celebrate with the Asheville community.

Marijo is survived by her husband Kevin Treakle, son Jordan, daughter Sophia (Travis Wardell), and sister Mayling Simpson (Paul Hebert). She is preceded in death by her mother Julia, father Thomas, and sister Sandy.

A memorial service is being planned to honor Marijo‟s life. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation on her behalf to the Asheville Botanical Garden, Great Tree Zen Women‟s Temple, or the John C. Campbell Folk School.
-Kevin, Jordan, & Sophia