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KATHRYN LYNCH SIMMONS

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SIMMONS, KATHRYN LYNCH - July 20, 1929 - September 28, 2012. Born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee as Kathryn Lynch, the second child of Kelly Arthur and Ethel Edwards Lynch, with first child, brother Kelly Arthur Lynch, Jr., all deceased. Graduated Central High School Fountain City, now Knoxville, 1946. Attended The Ward-Belmont School, Nashville, TN, 1947. Graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1950 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics specializing in Early Childhood Development. She was active in ROTC as a Sponsor for the man she would later marry William "Bill" Orth Simmons, retired Reserve Army Officer Lt. Col. and NASA Design Engineer recently deceased November 25, 2011. After graduating from UT, she worked as a Home Demonstration Agent for the Extension service and continued dating Bill while he was finishing his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. As a Home Demonstration Agent, she visited rural and oftentimes isolated homes in northeast Tennessee and taught the women of the county home economics such as nutrition, health, sewing, cooking, and child development. She married Bill May 2, 1953, shortly before he left for Korea. During their time apart as newlyweds throughout the Publicly defined Police Action (Korea), she taught military children in elementary school at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. When Bill returned from Korea, he took a job with Athens Plow Company in Athens, Tennessee. Also it was there on Shawnee Trail in the Athens Suburb of Picwattina that Kathryn and Bill would start a family with their first son, William Alexander Simmons, May 14, 1957. The family of three moved to Decatur, Alabama in 1959 after Bill landed the job of his dreams at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Huntsville, Alabama, later to be named George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA.'s Huntsville Facility. On July 22, 1960, Kathryn had a little girl and named her "Kathryn" Marie Simmons. Five years later on September 30, 1965, she would add a third child to the family, James Arthur Simmons, the first name and middle one taken from each proud grandfather. Her family of five were active members of Central Baptist Church on Grant Street in Decatur. Kathryn's life was her family. Shuffling her Billy, Kathy and Jimmy to school, birthday parties, swim lessons, baseball games, Brownies, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Swim Team, piano lessons, football games, Band practices, Chorus practices, Sunday School, Church and living life as a short-order to gourmet cook in the home. Kathryn was always there for her family. At the end of a long day or even sometimes while watching her children do whatever activity, she might reward herself just a little bit with a gentle tug of an ear while marveling at what God had given her. She always kept life in a light and happy perspective and taught her children this, and often played piano and sang in the home. She always made home a very happy, safe, and secure place for the growing family. Once the children were a little bigger, she found great joy returning to teach as a substitute in the Decatur City School System. She worked tirelessly to be the best partner for her husband, homemaker for all, mother for her children and caregiver for anyone in her extended family that needed help. It was of the utmost importance to both Kathryn and Bill that each of the children obtain their college degree. Again in unwavering fashion, no matter what bumps in the "College Road" came up, Kathryn and Bill ensured that each child had the opportunity and support for each to get their degree. After Bills retirement from NASA and the Army, He and Kathryn enjoyed couples time together in their new retirement home in Trinity Alabama, traveling to see six grandchildren growing up, taking care of other family members when failing health issues arose and taking the odd vacation or two when the mood struck. Kathryn touched everyone she met in a very special way. Missed terribly here on earth, we all know those on the other side now get the joy of seeing her again and we can all be happy that she can rest at last. She is survived by her two sons, William Alexander Simmons of Birmingham, Alabama, and James Arthur Simmons and wife Deborah Anne Howard Simmons (born in Tampa, Florida on 9/03/1970) of Tampa, FL; daughter, Kathryn Simmons Pappy and husband, John Emery Pappy (born in New York, New York on 9/12/1958), of Keller, Texas; and a total of six grandchildren (two born to William Alexander Simmons and Elizabeth Allison Strange born in Nashville, Tennessee on July 7, 1958): Jacqueline Alyssa Simmons born on June 4, 1988 in Fort Worth, Texas and Katelyn Elizabeth Simmons born on October 28, 1990 in Fort Worth, Texas, (two born to Kathryn Simmons Pappy): Justin William Pappy born in Fort Worth, Texas on 3/23/1997, Joanna Kathryn Pappy born in Fort Worth, Texas on 8/3/1999, (and two born to James Arthur Simmons): Andrew James Simmons 1st twin born in Tampa Florida August 26, 2004 and Samantha Anne Simmons 2nd twin born in Tampa Florida August 26, 2004. Graveside service will be Monday, October 2, 2012, 2:00 P.M. at Greenwood Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee with Gentry-Griffey Funeral Home directing. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials to be made to Melech Hospice House, 1125 N 52nd Street, Suite 100, Tampa, FL 33617. Gentry Griffey Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. You may sign and view the guest book at www.gentrygriffey.com.

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Published in Knoxville News Sentinel from September 30 to October 1, 2012

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