Marion Palestine Simmons, 86, of Des Arc, passed away May 1, 2016. She was born in Prairie County, Arkansas on February 2, 1930, the youngest of five children to Daniel L. West and Loretta J. McElroy.
She is survived by her children, Johnny Simmons and wife, Louise of Cabot, and Ronnie Simmons and wife, Kathy of Des Arc; four grandchildren, Jason Simmons and wife, jenny of Des Arc, Joshua Simmons and wife, Kim of Des Arc, Jocelyn Pannell and husband, Drew of Beebe, and Patrick Simmons of Cabot; five great-grandsons, Ryley and Emerson Pannell, Owen and Ethan Simmons, and Jase Simmons, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Marion was preceded in death by her husband of sixty years, John H. Simmons; her parents, and her four siblings, Fairest West Patterson of Des Arc, Hardy H. West of Corinth Mississippi, D.L. West, Jr. of Des Arc, and Jessie West Burkeen of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Marion was a homemaker and a devoted minister’s wife for most of her adult life. In addition to being a loving mother, mother-in-law and grandmother, she was a dedicated Sunday School and bible school teacher, choir member, pianist (when called upon), food server, clean-up person, and a willing volunteer for practically any other job that her church needed her to perform.
Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M., Thursday, May 5, 2016 at the Center Point Missionary Baptist Church near Hazen, Arkansas with burial at the Hazen Cemetery in Hazen. The family will receive visitors beginning at 5:00 P.M., Wednesday, May 4 at Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Center Point Missionary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 941, Hazen, Ar. 72064 or the Hazen Cemetery, P.O. Box 92, Hazen, Arkansas 72064.
As an extraordinary lady in many ways, Sister Marion Simmons influenced several generations of people. She was kind, caring, protective of her family, supportive of her husband’s church pastorates, and she contributed greatly to the Lord’s work even as disease took its toll on her mind and body. Her keen insight and brilliant intellect served her well as a teacher. She was a walking encyclopedia of Biblical knowledge and she knew how to effectively convey that knowledge to students who were privileged to sit under her teaching. She loved her family, her church, people in general, and her Lord. When necessary, she could be determined, resolute, and tenacious in accomplishing whatever task it was at hand. And she could also be the life of the party with her beautiful smile, twinkling eyes, and contagious giggle. To know Sister Marion Simmons was a blessing.
We pray that God’s Holy Spirit and His Word will provide strength, comfort, and assurance in this time of sorrow. We can now rejoice knowing that Sister Simmons has gone on to be with her Lord and Savior and with her loved ones in the Lord. May God bless the Simmons family.
Billy and Gail Booth Family
Sending Love and Prayers to all the family. We were blessed by getting to know Marion and visit with her. May God bless all of you her family. She will hold a special place in many hearts forever.
Mrs. Marion was a very sweet lady. I loved her smile and laughter. She will truly be missed. May God be with your family at this time of sorrow.