Diane Simms

Diane Davis Simms
March 16, 1944 ~ April 3, 2025
It is with sadness that the family of Diane Simms announces her passing on April 3, 2025, at the age of 81 years. Diane was born on March 16, 1944 to Hugh L. and Martha K. Davis in Denver, Colorado. Stationed in Colorado, her father served as a paratrooper instructor for the U.S. Army Air Corp throughout the World War II.
Diane was the first-born of twins, and she was the best of sisters and closest of friends to her twin sister, Donna. The family returned to Kentucky after the war and settled in Richmond. Diane graduated from Model Lab High School in Madison County in 1962, and she received her BA from Eastern Kentucky University in 1966. Diane completed her graduate work at the University of Arizona where she received her Master's Degree in Education (M.Ed.) in 1976.
Diane was as a public school teacher for over 40 years. After finishing her graduate studies, Diane worked in the Pima County School District in Tucson where she taught art and became the head of arts education for schools across the district. In 1983, Diane returned to Harrodsburg and began teaching at Harlow Elementary in the city school system. In the 1990s, Diane cherished her participation in a teacher exchange program with primary schools in Japan, and she traveled to Japan with a group of teachers. Over the years, Diane taught and loved hundreds of students. Diane strongly believed that education and reading for children advances a lifetime of curiosity and learning. After her retirement from teaching, Diane volunteered as an long-term care Ombudsman for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services where she advocated for nursing home residents.
Diane loved to travel and spend time with her beloved husband, sister, son, grandchildren and her dogs. Since retirement, Diane and her husband Michael traveled the world taking multiple yearly trips to France, England, Germany, Italy, Chile, Argentia, and many others. Diane supported historic preservation and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Harrodsburg Lions Club, and the James Harrod Trust Society. Diane was particularly proud of her son Kirk, who is a former federal prosecutor and senior partner with a law firm in Washington, DC.
Diane is survived by her husband of 35 years, Michael T. Simms, her twin-sister Donna Davis Coffey, her son Kirk Ogrosky (his wife Holly C. Barker), her grandson Beck Ogrosky, and granddaughter Margo Ogrosky. In addition to her son, Diane treated her sister's children like her own and she is also survived by her niece Beth Wilson (her husband Joel Wilson) and their children Jack Wilson and Ashley Wilson, and her niece Diana Frucci (her husband Jason Frucci) and their children Cade Frucci, Colin Frucci, and Robert Frucci.
Diane and Michael are members of the Harrodsburg United Methodist Church and believed that honesty and kindness to our fellow man would lead to heaven. A Memorial Service for Diane will be held at the Church on Good Friday, April 18, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Diane will then be interred beside her mother and father. Those who so desire, may make a memorial donation to the Mercer County Animal Shelter, 896 Moberly Road, Harrodsburg, KY 40330, email at animalshelter@mercerky.com. Diane loved her dogs and would encourage all to support animals in need.
Arrangements are entrusted to Sims Funeral Services in Harrodsburg.
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