The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

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Condolences

May 27, 2012

Ray D. Simmons

The Joplin Globe

CARTHAGE, Mo. —

 Ray David Simmons, 71, Carthage, passed away Wednesday, May 23, 2012,  at his home after a short illness.

Ray David Simmons was born Oct. 28, 1940, in Carthage, the son of the late Elba Cecil Simmons and Vivian Vee (Hopper) Simmons.  He was a graduate of Carthage Senior High School, Class of 1958, and attended Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Mo.

Ray was the owner/operator of Ray D. Simmons Trucking, Inc., from 1968 till his retirement in 2002.   He married Sandra Kay Shewmake on Oct. 10, 1964 (wife of 48 years) in Diamond, Mo.; she survives.  Ray was an Army veteran serving in the Army National Guard, 203rd Engineering Battalion, Carthage, Mo.

Additional survivors include a daughter, Niki Simmons Cooley, Bentonville, Ark., and one son Ryan David (Jessica) Simmons, Bentonville, Ark.; five sisters, Murlean (Jim) Bolas, Overland Park, Kan., Doris (Harry) Greninger, Carthage, Helen (Merv) Box, Kent, Wash., Juanita (Al) Hartman, Carthage and Viki Simmons (Joy) Eisenhauer, Carthage; a brother-in-law, Don Porter, Pittsburg, Kan., and a sister-in-law Deania Simmons, Carthage; two grandchildren, Taylor and Connor Cooley, a future grandchild, Bentonville, Ark.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Carolyn Porter and two brothers, Ralph and Junior Simmons.

Visitation was held from 9 to 11 a.m., Saturday, May 26, at Knell Mortuary, Carthage. Graveside services followed in Park Cemetery, Carthage.  Rev. Bob Holman officiated. Missouri Honors Program, U.S. Army Bravo team, Springfield, Mo., and the VFW Post 6415, Jasper, Mo., presented military honors.  Pallbearers were Jay Box, Connor Cooley, Brent Greninger, Rusty Hartman, Rick Simmons, Ryan Simmons and Shane Simmons.  Honorary pallbearers were Lt. Joe Falcon, Ofc. Chris Gravely, Ofc. Jon Loncarevic, Cpl. Ray Shastid, Capt. Mike Smith, Ofc. Dustin Todd, Ofc. Kenneth Trimberger, Sgt. Randy Wood and Cpl. Stephanie Wooten.

Memorial gifts are suggested to the Freeman Cancer Center, Joplin, Mo., or Taylor and Connor Home, Bentonville, Ark., in care of Knell Mortuary, Carthage, Mo.

Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com.

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