Beverly Sue Simmons

1948 - 2024

Beverly Sue Simmons
April 22, 1948 - July 22, 2024

Beverly Sue Simmons, of Buffalo, MO, passed away on July 22, 2024, at the age of 76. She was born on April 22, 1948, in Aurora, MO. to Purvis (Bud) and Norreva (Carter) Simmons. She grew up near Spring River, Missouri, and graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1966. She went on to attend college in McPherson, KS. as well as the College of the Ozarks.
In December of 1982, at the age of 34, Beverly enlisted in the US Navy. After completing basic training in February of 1983, she attended Aircrew Survival Equipmentman (PR) School. She was trained to pack parachutes and finished third in her class. She was then transferred from New Jersey to California, where she quickly moved up the ranks to second-class petty officer. Beverly was the only PR on detachments to Naval Air Facility El Centro, Bergstrom AFB, Texas, USS Kittyhawk, USS Constellation, and the USS Enterprise. She was then transferred to Spain, where she spent two years before transferring to Maine. In 1990, she was again sent overseas, this time to Lajes, Azores, then to Sicily. In May of 1994, she returned to the States and received instructor training at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Tennessee and earned her Master Training Specialist. Additionally, she completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Business Management from Crichton College in Memphis, TN.  After two years in Tennessee, she was relocated to Pensacola, Florida. There she was selected as 1997's PR "A" School Sailor of the Year and was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and her fourth good conduct medal. In June 2001, she was stationed onboard the USS Carl Vinson, and assigned as a QA rep. She served during Enduring Freedom and was awarded several medals: the Navy Unit Commendation, her second National Defense Service Medal, a second Battle Efficiency Award, as well as a third Sea Service Deployment ribbon. After serving 20 years of active duty, Beverly was transferred in 2002 to Fleet Reserve and was accepted into Southern Illinois University, where she earned her master's degree in Workforce Education and Curriculum Development.
In 2016, Beverly, along with Sue Swanigan, founded Woof for Vets. A nonprofit program that matches imperfect purebred puppies with veterans with PTSD or who are disabled. Breeders donate their puppies, and they are matched to a veteran as a trained companion, at no cost to the veteran. Beverly was a member of the MPBA, MMPA, Ozark Exotic Pets, Earth Quality @ KC, Combat Vets of America chapter 411 Fort Lea Worth. She also was a judge at FFA Speaking contests and showed dogs at ACA.
Beverly is preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her siblings, Charolette (Rick) Phillips, Gloria Garner, Rick (Pam) Carter, Teresa (Kent) Collins, Kimberly (Mark) Cobb, and Clay (Donna) Carter, and a step-nephew Bobby (Angie) Berlekamp as well as other extended family and countless friends.
A memorial visitation will be held on Thursday, July 25, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. at the DAV in Buffalo, MO, for her friends and family unable to travel to Republic for her formal visitation on Friday, July 26th, 2024, from 12-1 p.m. at Meadors Funeral Home in Republic, MO. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. Beverly will be laid to rest next to her mother at Rock Prairie Cemetery in Halltown, where she will receive full military honors. Donations are suggested to Woof for Vets at  www.woofforvets.org/donate