Dennis Lee Simmons

Dennis Lee Simmons, 78, of Odessa, Missouri passed away Monday, January 9, 2012 at his home. Funeral services will be 1:00p.m. Thursday January 12, 2012 at the Odessa Restoration Branch with Elders Glenn Eggert and Paul Simmons officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday January 11, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:00p.m. at the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home in Odessa. Burial will be in the Odessa City Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Odessa Restoration Branch. Arrangements are entrusted to the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. Second St. Odessa, MO 64076. 816-633-5524 Dennis was born August 23, 1933 in Carrier Mills, Illinois to John L. and Cora Elizabeth Choate Simmons. He worked most of his life as a coal miner retiring from Peabody Coal, Co. He married Alice Stone in 1954 who preceded him in death in 1997. On April 25, 1999 he married Rama Jean Wells in Odessa who survives of the home. He was a member of the Odessa Restoration Church and the Coal Miners Union. He loved spending time with family, gardening, hunting, and fishing. In addition to his wife, survivors include two daughters, Mona Oglesby and husband Larry of Lexington, MO and Cora Kielhorn of Carrier Mills, Illinois; three step-children, Tyra Greenfield and husband Larry of Odessa, Greg Parish and wife Terri of Woodbridge, Virginia and Kim Harwood and husband Patrick of Oak Grove, MO; five grandchildren, Travis, Nathan, and Jason Oglesby, Olivia Crisp and Caleb Daniels; eight great-grandchildren; three brothers, Elbert Simmons of Evansville, Indiana, Donald (Don) Simmons and wife Muriel of Eldorado, IL and Paul Simmons and wife Ann of Odessa; two sisters, Bonnie Bolin and Evertt of Warrensburg, MO and Carolyn Seets and husband Dewaine of Fulton, MO; as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and first wife he was preceded in death by a brother in infancy Johnie Leo Simmons and four sisters, Ruby Gregg, Mildred Kuppart, Esther Barger and Betty Stricklin.