Ray "Sonny" Clark Simmons, Jr.

Ray C. Simmons, Jr. (Sonny), 76, of Eaton, New York and Kissimmee, Florida lost his hard-fought battle on April 1, 2023 from complications that stemmed from Agent Orange exposure.

Sonny was born in Oneida, NY on December 30, 1946, the son of Marion (Hallenbeck) Simmons Van Wyk and Ray C. Simmons, Sr and step-father, Richard “Dick” Van Wyk. He graduated from West Winfield High School and attended Colorado State University before joining the United States Air Force in 1967. He was assigned to the U.S. Air Force Security Services during the Vietnam War and earned numerous air medals and the Bronze Star. Sonny worked for the National Security Agency in between tours in Southeast Asia. After 10 years of service, Sonny was honorably discharged from the military as Staff Sergeant and rejoined civilian life. He returned to the Eaton area where he received his electrical engineering degree from SUNY Morrisville, started his second career at Magnavox CATV, and met his future wife, Deidre “Dede” Russock. They were married in June of 1984 and settled in Eaton, NY. He enjoyed tinkering in the garage, riding motorcycles, camping with longtime friends, dressing up as Santa, and spending time with his family. He was a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America #293, Harley Owners Group, Disabled American Veterans, and a board member for the Town of Eaton. He is survived by his wife Dede; his children Amanda and Jon D’Ercole and Jessie and Brandon Confer; his siblings Patty and Alan Harris, Kathy Simmons and Ginger Martin, Deb Heslop; his grandchildren Jackson and Meadow D’Ercole and Avery and Dominic Confer; nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family in New York.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Morrisville Lions Club Children’s Christmas Fund, P.O. Box 445, Morrisville, NY 13408 or the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675, or online at support.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 31 Cedar St. Morrisville, NY.