Donald Simmons Obituary

OH My I just found out about their deaths today, Nov. 8, 2007 and am still in shock. We attended New Hope Church for several years and we have such fond memories of Don and Mary. Their love for the Lord was so evident in their lives. They let us come stay with them in their basement when the tornado hit Ellicott and I will never forget their kindness to us every time we saw them. My heart goes out to their girls, their grandkids and all of their family. Their absence will be felt for a long time to come but I am comforted by the fact that they are with the Lord they served so faithfully for so many years. This is not goodbye Don and Mary it is just see you in heaven where there will be no more sorrow, nor more tears. We love you, Bill and Marlene

Many memories and thoughts pass through my mind and heart as I think or Mary and Don.It has been quite some time since I have been home to see the two of them, but the memories are as fresh in my mind as if I were with them yesterday.
As a little girl,I did not know the impact the two of them would have on my life as an adult,nor did I know that going to church each Sunday in the basement of their home was something that I would hold dear to my heart as an adult today. To me there could be no better way to explain how much the two of them loved the Lord and how much they wanted to share this love with the people of Ellicott than to let everyone know that the legacy of love and their love for the Lord that is left with those of us who were touched by this powerful and never ending love, started with just a few families gathering in the basement of their home for worship each Sunday.
I can still smell Marys coffee that lingered up the staircase that greeted me each Sunday morning, telling me that Church was beginning soon. As a child, this was not something I really looked forward to, as I sometimes pouted with each footstep down the staircase to a chair placed carefully among about a dozen or so other chairs facing south toward a cherry wood podium, that now stands proudly at the front of New Hope. I do not remember when the podium was brought there, I only remember it just always being there along with the cross and maroon scarf that was draped over the arms of it, standing proudly behind it.
The time spent there each Sunday was too long for a little girl of about 8 or 9, when all I could think of was getting out of there and up to Donna or Darla's room to begin the process or driving them crazy with pleas to have one of them braid my hair or paint my nails. I'm sure the pestering gave way to pouting until my father Brad, called me to leave the girls alone, which brought on a sudden pouty bottom lip on my face,which i'm sure had something to do with the giving in of one of them to finally do so. My father and Don speaking often out front of their home on Sundays is another memory that stays fresh in my mind. Not too many times can I remember the two of them not speaking softly to one another about the Lord and his ways, I assume. Myself and my sister and mom would sit, patiently in the car waiting for the two of them to say goodbye and my father to finally make it to the car. I remember this so vividly because of the smile that radiated from both of their faces as they waved to each other when we pulled away. I now understand this smile to be the love of God that overwhelmed their hearts and lives which is obvious in the love that surrounds the building we now call New Hope.
The memories that come to me of Don and Mary and my mother, Nancy and my father, Brad working side by side building the church are some of the last memories that I have of them sharing their love of the Lord with one another, something that will remain very vivid in my mind. Those few memories are the last of which all were together in the house of the lord as my father was called home to be with the Lord in January of 1986, just months before the completion of the church was done.
I know that Don's friendship was one of greatest gifts from God my father had received, I know this because he told me this many times as a child. I would ask him why he spent so much time with Don praying and talking and he would reply with these exact words.... "Heather, friendship in the name of the Lord is but one of the greatest gifts the He will give you through out our lives. Cherish each one as I have with Don and Mary, for they will be there with me in life and they will be there with me when I go home" I understand now as I have gotten older, to cherish that of friends and family. I gives me such great comfort knowing that on that beautiful day on Lake Powell, Mary and Don were greeted with a smile and open arms that surpass any of our understandings of the love of a friendship in Jesus, by my father, Brad Burns, standing along side of our wonderful almighty God. Oh what a greeting that was!
I could speak of so many memories that I'm sure there would not be enough space. I just want the Simmons family, Donna and Darla and all who were touched by them, to know that even tho I have slipped from most of their thoughts as the years of my absence have gone by, that the love and wonderful memories that I carry with me now of Don and Mary I have carried with me through these many years of my life. my love of the lord and knowledge of the Him that has grown so strong in me as an adult, I owe to Don and Mary for opening their hearts and home to a family with one pouty little girl who will never forget their sweet faces that greeted me each Sunday. Nor will I ever be able to show enough gratitude to them for the one thing,the one gift that could only be understood by this pouty little girl, and that's the gift of friendship and the knowledge of Jesus.
Because of them, I live my life now serving the Lord and, just as they did so many years ago, open my home and heart to all who want to know the Lords love as the Simmons's taught me, as Mary taught me in Sunday school!!
They will be missed greatly and my thoughts and prayers go with the family in this time. I just hope that these few memories I shared, maybe will give some comfort in knowing just how loved and how much of an impact they had on the lives of so many others, including this pouty little girl who's grown to love the lord because of them.
Take comfort in knowing the greeting they have received entering the Lords house, a greeting of love and friendship.

God bless all of you. with my deepest sympathy,
Heather Burns-Selby.

Donna, Darla, and Your Aunt Chyrl, I am so sorry it has been so long,to long really. I know you are in a better place and we shall all meet there one day. Patty Pebley from old High Street

I remember Don and Mary as our nieghbors growing up in Ellicott,walking to there house to play with Donna and Darla,and getting "cows"milk from them weekly.They will be missed dearly and my thoughts and prayers are with their family.

You are in our thoughts and prayers.

My family and I came out and stayed with Don and Mary in 1997 for a week. We are cousins on my fathers side. They are two of the nicest christian people you could ever expect to meet. Our hearts are sunk at the loss to your family. We had even been in touch with them to come out and visit soon. But I quess now that will have to be in the kingdom. They will be missed greatly. Don and Mary, until we meet again. God rest.

Our feelings are with the family today. Our sympathy and comfort reach out.
We knew Don since 1980 when he and Al and Jerome stuccoed our house. We became friends through the horses and friends we remained until now.
When Don bought Pistol Pete up from Texas he stopped here first and unloaded him from the trailer and said:
"Now isn't that something?"
Yes, Pete was. I photographed Pete and Don together a couple years later.
I know we will all miss Don greatly and those long telephone calls.
God has blessed Don and Mary and has HIS reasons for calling them home together. Someday we may understand.

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

Just remember this is not our home.

This earth is not my home
No matter how much I roam.
I am an alien to this land
And can’t build on the sand.

No matter where I live or go
It is a foreign land
I then remember years ago
The master said, I had to go

I have a lesson to learn
Or I will burn
So here I stay
Here I live
Till I learn the way

Given a space suit of flesh and blood.
I must seek the master’s way
It is the only way to return
Or I will burn

I have learned this life I call my own
Is not mine to own.
For I have no power or control
Of my own.

With each sorrow, pain and hurt
I learn to turn to him
I have learned how to love and care
Because of him

He made away for me to return
I just have to learn
It is all through the love of his son (Jesus)
That I may return

The only way to get back home
Is to shed my flesh and blood
They call it death
But I just went home.

Wrote for you Uncle Don and Aunt Mary by Jud.
I know you guys just went home.
Forever in my heart you will be.
Love you and miss you guys so much.
Niece Judy

Dearest to my heart my Uncle Donnie and Aunt Mary many wonderful child hood memories. My love to you Donna and Darla and to your families. God is Amazing how he works how he gives us such peace and strength in our time of need. We will surely miss our loved ones but one day we will all be together again in heaven.
So until that day may God Bless all of you and show us his Grace and Love. Your cousin

It is so wonderful to read what my Uncle and Aunt meant to so many. It is also, wonderful to hear how they touched so many lives, even in death. Though we are still in shock and in disbelief. Even after seeing pictures of the accident. It is like a dream, we cannot wake up from. How is it? You both are gone? The Lord must have needed you more then us, for him to call you both home at once. What a joy we have know. What a blessing you have been. What a gift to have you, as my Uncle and Aunt. What wonderful memories I have to hold onto. Aunt Mary with such grace and love, always had a smile and hug for us all. Uncle Don, what can I say about him? He loved his horses but he loved the Lord even more. Why is it? In death we see what we truly had, but it took death to see it? I hope, that all in our family will heal and may this make us all closer. Life is short that is for sure and enough time is never enough. Donna and Darla, know that I love ya and that my heart goes out to you both deeply and your girls. I am so sorry. The Lord never gives us more then we can handle but I say Lord, this is pretty close to it. It is wonderful to know they both are in heaven together. Those wedding vales till death do us part, did not apply in your lives. For in death you never parted you went together and what a great end to a wonderful love story that is. Way cool for sure. My Aunt and Uncle you always will be. Forever living in my heart. Love you Aunt Mary and Uncle Donnie. You are so greatly missed.
Much Love, Nephew in law Randy and Niece Judy

As long as we live, they too will live;
For they are now a part of us:
As we remember them!

At the rising sun and at its going down we remember them.
At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter we remember them.
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring we remember them.
At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer we remember them.
At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of the autumn we remember them.
At the beginning of the year and when it ends we remember them.
As long as we live, they too will live, for they are now a part of us. As we remember them. When we are weary and in need of strength we remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart we remember them.
When we have decisions that are difficult to make we remember them.
When we have joy we crave to share we remember them.
When we have achievements that are based on theirs we remember them.
When we go fishing and boating we remember them.
For as long as we live, they too will live,
For they are now a part of us, as we remember them.

It has been quite a few years since I saw Don & Mary. We spent many happy times with both of them when all of us lived on Slocum Road.
Darla and Glenn (our son) were in the same class. I have thought of all of you often through the years. Darla & Donna your parents were a true light in this dark world. But you know that.
We are all thinking of you, Bill, Rhonda, Glenn, Eileen, & Brian Walter

We will miss these two wonderful people whom we have known for just a little while, through visiting their church. It was a pleasure knowing both of them, and we can only take comfort in knowing that they are in the presence of God right now. May we all be found to be in God's grace as much as they were. Don and Mary have made all of our lives better, by being friends, neighbors and fellow believers. We will miss them greatly, but be comforted by the faith they shared.