James (Jim) Gordon Simmons
October 29, 1931 ~ September 20, 2015
Jim Simmons
James (Jim) Gordon Simmons, age 83, died peacefully at the Evergreen Hospice Center September 20, 2015. Jim was born in Lowell, MA on October 29, 1931, the eldest of three children, to parents Ralph and Dorothy Simmons.
Jim worked for over 30 years with Bell Systems (AT&T). His job took him many places including El Paso, TX, where he worked at White Sands Missile Range, NM on the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. His job finally brought him back to San Francisco, CA in the late 1960’s where he met his wife of 34 years, Susan Kisla Simmons. Jim was transferred to Seattle, WA and settled in Redmond, WA where they have lived for over 25 years.
After retirement he kept busy teaching communications at Seattle Pacific University and driving safety for the AARP. He enjoyed golfing and hunting. His love of wine led him to volunteer many hours at the local wineries. Jim was an avid traveler, taking many trips with his wife and friends.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Dorothy Simmons, his sister, Janet Angelo and daughter, Jodene Ann Simmons and son, James Blair Simmons.
Jim is survived by his wife, Susan, his daughters, Judith (Edward) Smith and Linda Jacla, his grandchildren, Andrew Cliburn, Lisa (Adam) Furlow, Rachel (Greg) Hanna and Aaron (Karissa) Cliburn, his great grandchildren, Emma, Colton, and Avery, his brother Gordon (Helen) Simmons, and sisters-in-law, Sandra Corcoran and Madeline Griffin, his nieces and nephews, Ken Runyon, Janelle Hall, Holly Parsons, Gordon (Buck) Simmons Jr., Jill Griffin and Jackie Quinn and many friends and loved ones who had the pleasure of knowing him over the years.
Funeral Services will be on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 10:30AM at St. Jude Parish, 10526 166th Ave NE Redmond, WA 98052 Reception immediately following.
His spirit and love of life will be greatly missed.
5 Responses to “James (Jim) Gordon Simmons”
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Dear Big Brother,
Yor loved and taught me so much and so blessed to have you in my life! You leave many of us better off for being a part of our lives. R early great pictue Susan.
Gordon
Dear Simmons Family,
Mike and I are so thankful we had the opportunity to know Jim. His enthusiasm was contagious and just being in his presence made us smile. He was a wonderful man who loved life and will be truly missed. Our hearts are heavy with his passing, but grateful we have our memories.
With love and deepest condolences to the family.
Lesly & Mike
Jim will be sorely missed, not only by his wife, Susan, to whom he was a wonderful husband but by all of us who were lucky to have him be a part of our lives.
Memories of happy times with him will remain for a long time. May he rest in peace.
Sandy
For a good number of years I had the pleasure to volunteer with Jim at many of the wineries in Woodinville. His bigger than life personality made many a long day of bottling enjoyable. He will be miss by me and many others who have volunteered with him.
Requiem
Under the wide and starry sky
Dig the grave and let me lie:
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And laid me down with a will.
This be the verse you ‘grave for me
Here he lies where he long’d to be;
Home is the sailor, home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.
Robert Louis Stevenson.