Jesse Richard Simmons, age 76, of Rector, Arkansas, passed away on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro, Arkansas, of natural causes. Richard wished to be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, friend, and statesman. He was proud to be a southern gentleman, a Democrat, and an American.
Richard was born on September 29, 1941, in Rector, Arkansas, where he lived most of his life. He was the son of Auda Lee and Rachel Evelyn (O’Brien) Simmons. When Richard was four, his mother, Rachel, passed from this life. In 1946 his father, Auda, married Cleta Marie (Whitaker) Lorrance, who became a loving mother to Richard, and the family moved for a short time to Portageville, Missouri. Richard was married to Shirley Ann Gremore on November 14, 1964, in Sikeston, Missouri. He was her best friend and the love of her life. She was his loving helpmate, full partner in farming, and greatest asset in his political career.
A 1959 graduate of Rector High School, Richard earned a degree in agriculture in 1963 from Mississippi State University. He served honorably in the Air Force Reserves for six years. Richard was engaged in farming for 54 years. He was a staunch supporter of agriculture, both locally and statewide. Richard loved the land, Clay County, and the state of Arkansas.
Foremost, Richard dedicated his life to public service. He chaired the Clay County Democratic Central Committee for 20 years. In addition, Richard served eight years on the Farm Service Agency State Executive Committee. In 2007 Farm Bureau named the Richard Simmons Family the Clay County Farm Family of the Year. In that year the House of Representatives recognized the Simmons Family with a special citation for their selection as Farm Family of the year and in recognition of their many contributions to agriculture and the state economy.
From 1995 until 2001, Richard proudly served as the District 84 State Representative in the Arkansas State House of Representatives. During his tenure he held positions on the Rules Committee, House Revenue and Taxation Committee, Game and Fish Funding Sub-Committee, and House Agriculture and Economic Development Committee, which he chaired. He was also the chairman of the First District House Caucus. In 1997 Arkansas State University presented Richard a special award for his leadership and vision in securing funding for the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Project. One of his proudest achievements was the designation of the Crowley’s Ridge Scenic Highway, Arkansas’s first National Scenic Highway. Upon Richard’s retirement in 2001 from the Arkansas House of Representatives, the Honorable Marion Berry stated that “the world is a better place because of [Richard’s] service.”
Richard was a longtime member of the Rector First United Methodist Church where he faithfully volunteered in various capacities. In addition, he was a member of the Dannelly Lodge #300 Free and Accepted Masons. In 2002 Richard and Shirley were honored as Grand Marshals of the Rector Labor Day Parade for their many years of volunteerism at the annual Rector Labor Day Picnic and in the community at large. The Clay County Arts Council named Richard and Shirley as Honorees at the 2016 Celebration of the Arts banquet. In his civic life, Richard strove to live according to the principle of the Golden Rule. Many citizens of Rector and the greater region benefited from his work on their behalf.
Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Auda Simmons, Rachel Simmons, and Cleta Simmons; his infant brother, Joseph Lee Simmons; his sister, Rose Marie (Simmons) Hayes; his brother, Ralph Edward Simmons; and his brother-in-law, John (Bud) Campbell.
He is survived by Shirley Ann Simmons of the home; three sons, Stephen Lee Simmons and wife Jamie, David Scott Simmons, and William Henry Simmons, all of Rector; three grandchildren, Sydney, Samuel, and Sophie Simmons of Rector; two sisters-in-law, Joanie Campbell of Sikeston, Mo, and Rebecca Simmons of Rector; two brothers-in-law, Robert Gremore and wife Sharon of Portageville, MO, and Thomas Hayes and wife Lynn of Franklin, TN; nine nephews, two nieces, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Visitation and funeral services will be held Thursday, September 27, at the Rector First United Methodist Church. Visitation will begin at 12:30, followed by a celebration of Richard’s life at 3:00. A graveside service and interment at Woodland Heights Cemetery will immediately follow the service. Memorials may be made to Rector First United Methodist Church, Woodland Heights Cemetery, or the Rector Helping Hands Foundation.
Richard was born on September 29, 1941, in Rector, Arkansas, where he lived most of his life. He was the son of Auda Lee and Rachel Evelyn (O’Brien) Simmons. When Richard was four, his mother, Rachel, passed from this life. In 1946 his father, Auda, married Cleta Marie (Whitaker) Lorrance, who became a loving mother to Richard, and the family moved for a short time to Portageville, Missouri. Richard was married to Shirley Ann Gremore on November 14, 1964, in Sikeston, Missouri. He was her best friend and the love of her life. She was his loving helpmate, full partner in farming, and greatest asset in his political career.
A 1959 graduate of Rector High School, Richard earned a degree in agriculture in 1963 from Mississippi State University. He served honorably in the Air Force Reserves for six years. Richard was engaged in farming for 54 years. He was a staunch supporter of agriculture, both locally and statewide. Richard loved the land, Clay County, and the state of Arkansas.
Foremost, Richard dedicated his life to public service. He chaired the Clay County Democratic Central Committee for 20 years. In addition, Richard served eight years on the Farm Service Agency State Executive Committee. In 2007 Farm Bureau named the Richard Simmons Family the Clay County Farm Family of the Year. In that year the House of Representatives recognized the Simmons Family with a special citation for their selection as Farm Family of the year and in recognition of their many contributions to agriculture and the state economy.
From 1995 until 2001, Richard proudly served as the District 84 State Representative in the Arkansas State House of Representatives. During his tenure he held positions on the Rules Committee, House Revenue and Taxation Committee, Game and Fish Funding Sub-Committee, and House Agriculture and Economic Development Committee, which he chaired. He was also the chairman of the First District House Caucus. In 1997 Arkansas State University presented Richard a special award for his leadership and vision in securing funding for the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Project. One of his proudest achievements was the designation of the Crowley’s Ridge Scenic Highway, Arkansas’s first National Scenic Highway. Upon Richard’s retirement in 2001 from the Arkansas House of Representatives, the Honorable Marion Berry stated that “the world is a better place because of [Richard’s] service.”
Richard was a longtime member of the Rector First United Methodist Church where he faithfully volunteered in various capacities. In addition, he was a member of the Dannelly Lodge #300 Free and Accepted Masons. In 2002 Richard and Shirley were honored as Grand Marshals of the Rector Labor Day Parade for their many years of volunteerism at the annual Rector Labor Day Picnic and in the community at large. The Clay County Arts Council named Richard and Shirley as Honorees at the 2016 Celebration of the Arts banquet. In his civic life, Richard strove to live according to the principle of the Golden Rule. Many citizens of Rector and the greater region benefited from his work on their behalf.
Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Auda Simmons, Rachel Simmons, and Cleta Simmons; his infant brother, Joseph Lee Simmons; his sister, Rose Marie (Simmons) Hayes; his brother, Ralph Edward Simmons; and his brother-in-law, John (Bud) Campbell.
He is survived by Shirley Ann Simmons of the home; three sons, Stephen Lee Simmons and wife Jamie, David Scott Simmons, and William Henry Simmons, all of Rector; three grandchildren, Sydney, Samuel, and Sophie Simmons of Rector; two sisters-in-law, Joanie Campbell of Sikeston, Mo, and Rebecca Simmons of Rector; two brothers-in-law, Robert Gremore and wife Sharon of Portageville, MO, and Thomas Hayes and wife Lynn of Franklin, TN; nine nephews, two nieces, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Visitation and funeral services will be held Thursday, September 27, at the Rector First United Methodist Church. Visitation will begin at 12:30, followed by a celebration of Richard’s life at 3:00. A graveside service and interment at Woodland Heights Cemetery will immediately follow the service. Memorials may be made to Rector First United Methodist Church, Woodland Heights Cemetery, or the Rector Helping Hands Foundation.
Jesse Richard Simmons, age 76, of Rector, Arkansas, passed away on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro, Arkansas, of natural causes. Richard wished to be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, friend, and statesman. He was proud to be a southern gentleman, a Democrat, and an American.
Richard was born on September 29, 1941, in Rector, Arkansas, where he lived most of his life. He was the son of Auda Lee and Rachel Evelyn (O’Brien) Simmons. When Richard was four, his mother, Rachel, passed from this life. In 1946 his father, Auda, married Cleta Marie (Whitaker) Lorrance, who became a loving mother to Richard, and the family moved for a short time to Portageville, Missouri. Richard was married to Shirley Ann Gremore on November 14, 1964, in Sikeston, Missouri. He was her best friend and the love of her life. She was his loving helpmate, full partner in farming, and greatest asset in his political career.
A 1959 graduate of Rector High School, Richard earned a degree in agriculture in 1963 from Mississippi State University. He served honorably in the Air Force Reserves for six years. Richard was engaged in farming for 54 years. He was a staunch supporter of agriculture, both locally and statewide. Richard loved the land, Clay County, and the state of Arkansas.
Foremost, Richard dedicated his life to public service. He chaired the Clay County Democratic Central Committee for 20 years. In addition, Richard served eight years on the Farm Service Agency State Executive Committee. In 2007 Farm Bureau named the Richard Simmons Family the Clay County Farm Family of the Year. In that year the House of Representatives recognized the Simmons Family with a special citation for their selection as Farm Family of the year and in recognition of their many contributions to agriculture and the state economy.
From 1995 until 2001, Richard proudly served as the District 84 State Representative in the Arkansas State House of Representatives. During his tenure he held positions on the Rules Committee, House Revenue and Taxation Committee, Game and Fish Funding Sub-Committee, and House Agriculture and Economic Development Committee, which he chaired. He was also the chairman of the First District House Caucus. In 1997 Arkansas State University presented Richard a special award for his leadership and vision in securing funding for the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Project. One of his proudest achievements was the designation of the Crowley’s Ridge Scenic Highway, Arkansas’s first National Scenic Highway. Upon Richard’s retirement in 2001 from the Arkansas House of Representatives, the Honorable Marion Berry stated that “the world is a better place because of [Richard’s] service.”
Richard was a longtime member of the Rector First United Methodist Church where he faithfully volunteered in various capacities. In addition, he was a member of the Dannelly Lodge #300 Free and Accepted Masons. In 2002 Richard and Shirley were honored as Grand Marshals of the Rector Labor Day Parade for their many years of volunteerism at the annual Rector Labor Day Picnic and in the community at large. The Clay County Arts Council named Richard and Shirley as Honorees at the 2016 Celebration of the Arts banquet. In his civic life, Richard strove to live according to the principle of the Golden Rule. Many citizens of Rector and the greater region benefited from his work on their behalf.
Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Auda Simmons, Rachel Simmons, and Cleta Simmons; his infant brother, Joseph Lee Simmons; his sister, Rose Marie (Simmons) Hayes; his brother, Ralph Edward Simmons; and his brother-in-law, John (Bud) Campbell.
He is survived by Shirley Ann Simmons of the home; three sons, Stephen Lee Simmons and wife Jamie, David Scott Simmons, and William Henry Simmons, all of Rector; three grandchildren, Sydney, Samuel, and Sophie Simmons of Rector; two sisters-in-law, Joanie Campbell of Sikeston, Mo, and Rebecca Simmons of Rector; two brothers-in-law, Robert Gremore and wife Sharon of Portageville, MO, and Thomas Hayes and wife Lynn of Franklin, TN; nine nephews, two nieces, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Visitation and funeral services will be held Thursday, September 27, at the Rector First United Methodist Church. Visitation will begin at 12:30, followed by a celebration of Richard’s life at 3:00. A graveside service and interment at Woodland Heights Cemetery will immediately follow the service. Memorials may be made to Rector First United Methodist Church, Woodland Heights Cemetery, or the Rector Helping Hands Foundation.
Richard was born on September 29, 1941, in Rector, Arkansas, where he lived most of his life. He was the son of Auda Lee and Rachel Evelyn (O’Brien) Simmons. When Richard was four, his mother, Rachel, passed from this life. In 1946 his father, Auda, married Cleta Marie (Whitaker) Lorrance, who became a loving mother to Richard, and the family moved for a short time to Portageville, Missouri. Richard was married to Shirley Ann Gremore on November 14, 1964, in Sikeston, Missouri. He was her best friend and the love of her life. She was his loving helpmate, full partner in farming, and greatest asset in his political career.
A 1959 graduate of Rector High School, Richard earned a degree in agriculture in 1963 from Mississippi State University. He served honorably in the Air Force Reserves for six years. Richard was engaged in farming for 54 years. He was a staunch supporter of agriculture, both locally and statewide. Richard loved the land, Clay County, and the state of Arkansas.
Foremost, Richard dedicated his life to public service. He chaired the Clay County Democratic Central Committee for 20 years. In addition, Richard served eight years on the Farm Service Agency State Executive Committee. In 2007 Farm Bureau named the Richard Simmons Family the Clay County Farm Family of the Year. In that year the House of Representatives recognized the Simmons Family with a special citation for their selection as Farm Family of the year and in recognition of their many contributions to agriculture and the state economy.
From 1995 until 2001, Richard proudly served as the District 84 State Representative in the Arkansas State House of Representatives. During his tenure he held positions on the Rules Committee, House Revenue and Taxation Committee, Game and Fish Funding Sub-Committee, and House Agriculture and Economic Development Committee, which he chaired. He was also the chairman of the First District House Caucus. In 1997 Arkansas State University presented Richard a special award for his leadership and vision in securing funding for the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Project. One of his proudest achievements was the designation of the Crowley’s Ridge Scenic Highway, Arkansas’s first National Scenic Highway. Upon Richard’s retirement in 2001 from the Arkansas House of Representatives, the Honorable Marion Berry stated that “the world is a better place because of [Richard’s] service.”
Richard was a longtime member of the Rector First United Methodist Church where he faithfully volunteered in various capacities. In addition, he was a member of the Dannelly Lodge #300 Free and Accepted Masons. In 2002 Richard and Shirley were honored as Grand Marshals of the Rector Labor Day Parade for their many years of volunteerism at the annual Rector Labor Day Picnic and in the community at large. The Clay County Arts Council named Richard and Shirley as Honorees at the 2016 Celebration of the Arts banquet. In his civic life, Richard strove to live according to the principle of the Golden Rule. Many citizens of Rector and the greater region benefited from his work on their behalf.
Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Auda Simmons, Rachel Simmons, and Cleta Simmons; his infant brother, Joseph Lee Simmons; his sister, Rose Marie (Simmons) Hayes; his brother, Ralph Edward Simmons; and his brother-in-law, John (Bud) Campbell.
He is survived by Shirley Ann Simmons of the home; three sons, Stephen Lee Simmons and wife Jamie, David Scott Simmons, and William Henry Simmons, all of Rector; three grandchildren, Sydney, Samuel, and Sophie Simmons of Rector; two sisters-in-law, Joanie Campbell of Sikeston, Mo, and Rebecca Simmons of Rector; two brothers-in-law, Robert Gremore and wife Sharon of Portageville, MO, and Thomas Hayes and wife Lynn of Franklin, TN; nine nephews, two nieces, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Visitation and funeral services will be held Thursday, September 27, at the Rector First United Methodist Church. Visitation will begin at 12:30, followed by a celebration of Richard’s life at 3:00. A graveside service and interment at Woodland Heights Cemetery will immediately follow the service. Memorials may be made to Rector First United Methodist Church, Woodland Heights Cemetery, or the Rector Helping Hands Foundation.
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