Lieutenant Colonel Monroe “Butch” Earl Simpson Jr. passed away on April 7, 2026, at his home in Noble, Oklahoma, after a battle with lung cancer. Butch was born on December 16, 1938, in Poteau, Oklahoma. He graduated from Norman High School in 1957 and went on to attend the University of Oklahoma, where he earned two bachelor’s degrees, one in Geology in 1962 and another in Police Science in 1969. He also minored in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. He later earned a master’s degree in Police Science from the University of Southern California in 1974. He began his career in law enforcement as a patrolman with the Norman Police Department in 1964. He later served with the Las Vegas Police Department as an undercover narcotics investigator and subsequently worked for the Ventura Police Department. Following his law enforcement career, Butch dedicated over two decades to education at Connors State College from 1977 to 1999, where he taught Criminal Justice courses and served as Director of the Criminal Justice Program. During this time, he also volunteered with the college’s baseball program as an assistant manager and hitting coach, contributing to the team’s JUCO World Series championship in 1985. After retiring from Connors State, he founded his own private investigation firm, Redlands Investigation. Butch loved sports and was a lifelong fan of OU football and the New York Yankees, a passion that took root when his favorite player Mickey Mantle broke into the majors in 1952. His love of sports grew into a passion for mentoring young athletes. In addition to his work at Connors State, he volunteered with the Noble High School baseball team and served as a swim team coach for Norman High School. He also served his country in the U.S. Army, the National Guard, and the U.S. Army Reserve from 1957 to 1999. Over the course of more than four decades of service, he attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In one of his assignments, he served as assistant commandant for the 4156th USARF School, where he helped train soldiers. He was preceded in death by his parents, Monroe E. Simpson Sr. and Lolita Oriole Simpson, as well as his wives, Claudia, Roberta, and Pamela. He is survived by his siblings, Michael and Danise; his children, David, Gena, Tonya, Robert (wife Angela), and Rick; his grandchildren, Chloe, Sophia, and Robbie; and his great-grandchildren, Khalil and Kingston.