1939 James 2016

James Lawrence Simmons

July 5, 1939 — July 18, 2016

James (Jim) Lawrence Simmons passed away suddenly and peacefullly while resting in his home on Sunday, July 17, 2016, in Springville, Utah, a blessed release from aggressive complications of leukemia. Born in Spanish Fork, Utah, on July 5, 1939, the only son of Lawrence Benjamin Simmons and Mildred Adeline Angell, he was told that he and his faithful wife would ensure the family name and line would be carried on with “five sons,” who were delivered as promised.
Growing up, Jim looked forward to trips with his dad and uncles to Fish Lake and returned with dinner to feed the whole family. He cherished quiet times spent together with his dad learning the craft of whittling. As a class of ’57 graduate and proud Mighty Red Devil athlete, Jim led the football team as its quarterback and excelled as a track and field sprinter.
A real storybook instance of love at first sight, Nancy Jane Jones has been Jim’s one and only true sweetheart since the day they met, and he knew right then she would one day be his wife. Directly after boot camp and prior to his departure to honorably serve his country as a seaplane radio operator in the U.S. Naval Air Force from 1957-1959, Jim & Nancy were married in the Salt Lake Temple for time and all eternity.
Jim was an entrepreneur, who in partnership with his parents owned and operated Mildred’s, a women’s clothing store, then Jim & Me with Nancy for some 20 years before he pursued and obtained his license to serve the insurance needs of his community and state as an award-winning agent for National Farmers Union Insurance and independent owner for 40 plus years.
Jim enjoyed regaling clients and anyone who would stop by with fond reminiscences of boating trips to Lake Powell and Yuba with family and neighborhood friends and of his deeply spiritual experiences as a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, all of which served to strenghten his own testimony of the gospel.
When not at home, Jim could be found walking all around town or taking a quick road trip up to Jackson Hole where he often sought inspiration for expression of his artistic talents passed down from his mother in the form of beautiful oil-based paintings. But more often than not, Jim would be driving the hallowed fairways or putting on the groomed greens of Hobble Creek Golf Course, continually striving to perfect his precision and swing which still enabled him to shoot his own age with a score of 77. Rest assured, Jim will be reserving tee times, working on mastering his short game, and awaiting happy reunions on the 19th hole with his cherished family, friends, and golfing buddies.
Jim is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Nancy; his sons: Curtis (Wendy) Simmons of Spanish Fork, Ron (Lisa) Simmons of Springville, Clay (Cindie) Simmons of Salem, Gary (Stephanie) Simmons of Springville, and daughter-in-law, Lorraine Simmons of Eagle Mountain; sisters Jeneel (Dick) Johnson of Centerville and Carolyn (David) Nielsen of Springville, sisters-in-law Peggy Giddens of Springville and Elaine (George) Banks of Spanish Fork, and brothers-in-law Richard Duke of Pleasant Grove and Doug Miner of Bountiful; 17 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Shane Scott Simmons, two sisters, Dalene Duke and Mary Ann Miner, and great-granddaughter, Emma Paige Bowen.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2016, at 11 A.M. at the Springville Stake Center located at 245 South 600 East (Kolob Circle) in Springville.  Family and friends may also pay their respects on Friday evening, July 22nd from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M at Wheeler Mortuary, 211 East 200 South in Springville, and Saturday morning at the stake center one hour prior to the services. Burial in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery will follow the services with military rites performed by the American Legion.

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