Fred Monroe "Slug" Simms Jr.

A memorial service to celebrate and remember the life of Fred Monroe "Slug" Simms, Jr. will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 29, 2025, at The Park Church of Christ chapel.

Fred, or "Slug" as he was known to his family and close friends, passed away in Tulsa on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. He was 75 years old.

He was born in Nowata, Oklahoma, on June 6, 1950, to Fred M. Simms, Sr and Juanita L. (Wallace) Simms and was one of the two of his seven siblings born in a hospital. Slug spent most of his youth growing up in Oklahoma and graduated from East Central High School. He married the love of his life, Susie Hancock, on January 8, 1970, in Tulsa, OK. As the story goes, when Susie saw Slug walk by her 6th grade classroom window, she said, "I'm going to marry that boy one day." And some years later, she did. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Jim, Carrie, and Fred. Slug provided for his family working as a supervisor for Norris Sucker Rods and UPCO.

In the mid 1980s, he continued his education attending trade school, where he earned his certificates in Hydraulics/Pneumatics, Electronics, and Mechanics, and he even won state competitions in all three classes.

He was a great man that was ALL about his family. He would rather be with his family than anywhere else. He was a devoted husband, father, and PawPaw. He rarely missed an activity for his children or grandchildren. Between concerts, basketball, and baseball games for his kids, and choir, band concerts, countless soccer games and travel tournaments, and rock bands for his grandkids (Lakyn, Lily, Shelby, Garrett and Zac), he was there, even into their adulthood. His wife, kids, and grandkids could not leave the house without him making sure he got hugs and an "I love you."

Slug liked football, especially the Oklahoma Sooners, and loved trips to Norman to watch the games with his sons, Jim and Fred, and daughter-in-law, Lisa.

He was a gifted carpenter. He made many furniture pieces for their home and even sold some to people he had never met that had seen his handywork. Susie would help him and do the staining. He also helped his daughter-in-law, Lindsay, learn to do some carpentry. Slug also made furniture pieces for his kids and grandkids, as well as a playhouse in the backyard of their home. Needless to say, those things have now become priceless. He walked three miles EVERY day in the neighborhood, unless there was lightning, ice, or hail. Carrie would occasionally walk with him, and he would tell her about who the neighbors were and little bits about their lives that he had picked up by walking that walk so often. He mowed the neighbor's yard and, according to Susie, was always paid with a huge pan of brownies. Slug liked to fish recreationally. His favorite spot was on his nephew Colin's property in Caney. While a great fisherman, he mostly enjoyed it for the time spent with family and sometimes didn't even fish, as he was so busy changing out the hooks, bait, and lures, but did it all with such joy.

There is no way to say what this man meant to his family and how much he was loved in such a short period of time. He certainly has left a huge legacy and a family that knows how much he loved them.

Slug is survived by his wife of 55 years Susie, their children, Jim and his wife Lisa, Fred and his wife, Lindsay Pulliam, and Carrie Hester; their grandchildren, Zac Simms, Lakyn Hester, Lily Hester, Shelby Simms, and Garrett Simms; his sisters, Linda Hightower and husband, Floyd, Beth Riggins, Sally Franklin and husband, David; numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family. Slug was preceded in death by his parents, Fred, Sr. and Juanita, brothers, Jess and Jake Simms, sister, Midge Heathcock, brother-in-law, Richard Riggins.