Lisa Johansen Simpson, 52, passed away August 2, 2016. She was born November 11, 1963 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Roy and Colleen Taft Johansen. Lisa attended Skyline High School and the University of Utah. In the spring of 1984 she moved to New York and married William Simpson (later divorced.) The joy of Lisa's life, William Ross Simpson, Jr. (Billy) was born June 17, 1985. Lisa loved Billy with her whole heart.
Lisa enjoyed the pursuit of education; while living in New York, she acquired an advanced degree in the field of nursing. She obtained a BSN in nursing from Adelphi University in 1992. In 1999, at Stonybrook University, Lisa received her MSN in Psychiatric NP. She graduated with honors and joined Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society. In 1997 she received the New York State Coalition of Nurse Practitioners Arthur Eve Distinguished Student of the Year Award. As a nurse practitioner, she had a private practice in New York from 1999 until 2016. In January 2016, Lisa moved back home to Utah. She worked for the University of Utah at UNI as a registered nurse. She excelled there, and enjoyed being back near the mountains.
She was happy to reunite with family and friends in Utah she'd been away from for so long. Lisa was excited to continue acquiring even more education in the field of nursing, but cancer cut her plans short. Lisa was proud of her Norwegian heritage. She loved Diet AandW root beer, going to movies, and her dog Izzy. Lisa leaves behind Billy Simpson (son) and Michael Johansen (brother) as well as uncles, aunts, nieces, and cousins who'll miss her very much. She is preceded in death by Colleen Taft (mother,) Ellie Simpson (mother-in-law) and Roy Johansen (father.)
A celebration of Lisa's life will take place Saturday, August 13, 2016 at Larkin Mortuary, 3688 West 12600 South, Riverton, Utah with a gathering beginning at 10:00 a.m. prior to services at 11:00 a.m.
