Kenneth C. Simmons

Kenneth C. Simmons, 92, of Kingsland, Texas, from Burlington, Colo., moved into the celestial home above to be with his Father on August 8, 2022.

Ken was born to Harley Glenn Simmons, Sr. and Mary Eva Fisk on October 17, 1929, in Albion, Mich. Being the youngest of five kids afforded Ken the wisdom of his brothers and sisters of what to do and not to do. He loved his family very much and loved the holidays when they could all get together.

Ken graduated from Battle Creek Central High School having lettered in Football and Basketball and also played the clarinet in the High School Band.

Ken received his Nursing Degree from Alexian Brothers Hospital in Chicago, Ill., and in St. Louis, Mo. Alexian Brothers nursing program was one of only five male nursing schools in the United States in the late forties. Ken received his Anaesthesia Degree from Luther Hospital in Eau Claire, Wis. He went on to be the head of the anaesthesia department for many years at Community Hospital in Battle Creek, Mich., and then moved to Thermopolis, Wyoming where he eventually became a circuit anaesthetist and served several hospitals in a rather large northwest area of Wyoming. He went on to work in Hastings, Neb., Elizabeth Town, S. C., North Carolina, and finally settling in Chandler, Ariz., and retired having been a CRNA for 45 years. I

In Arizona he was able to golf most every day and in season eat grapefruit from one of his fruit trees. He enjoyed grapefruit for the rest of his life and had one a day.

Ken was married to Mary Lynn Rabbitt for over 65 years on May 15, 1952, in the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek, Mich. Ken was a lifelong Christian being brought up in the Central Christian Church and served as an elder and deacon in the various Presbyterian Churches he and Mary belonged to.

He was an accomplished writer of poems and published four books on poetry and would always design the birthday cards he sent out with some of his original prose and artwork. He always enjoyed Texas and was very happy to spend his last couple of years among the rolling hills and abundant trees of the Hill Country.

Ken is survived by his son, Jim Simmons and his lady, Velma Gauny of Tow, Texas; Kate Stolz and her husband, Dog of Burlington, Colo., and Dawn Davis of Thermopolis, Wyo .; 7 grandchildren; and 7 great grandchildren. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Ken is preceded in death by his wife, Meri (Mom changed her name when she was in her 70s); parents; brothers; and sisters; niece; and nephew.

No services are planned as was his wish.

Memorials may be given in Ken's honour to Hill Country Memorial Hospice. https://www.hillcountrymemorial.org (830)997-1335. Cremation arrangements are being handled by Harrell Funeral Home in Kingsland, Texas.

The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses that attended to Dad in his last few weeks and Hill Country Memorial Hospice nurses and aides and Chaplain who lovingly attended to him in his last days.