Wesley Martin Simons

Wesley Martin "Wes" Simons passed away unexpectedly at his home in Beverly, Massachusetts on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

He was 71 years old. While that number suggests a certain stage of life, anyone who knew Wes would tell you he lived with the energy, curiosity, and vitality of someone decades younger.

Wes was the kind of husband, dad, brother, neighbor, spiritual director, and friend that people happily added to their family. He loved bravely and humbly, never fully understanding just how much he meant to those he quietly cared for. He chose his words thoughtfully and offered guidance, support, and care with deep compassion. If Wes asked how you were doing, he truly wanted to know. He would remember and follow up, because your life genuinely mattered to him.

He shared a steadfast, joyful, and often humorous love with his wife of 30 years, Dayana. It was never a surprise to hear Dayana call out, "Wes!" followed quickly by laughter. Together, they created a home that became a safe space for family, friends, neighbors, and community. Wes did not just welcome people in. He took care of them.

A lifelong DIY construction guy, Wes loved building things almost as much as he loved building people up. He happily helped his sons with countless home improvement projects, sometimes arriving unannounced just to check on progress. He loved being part of any project crew, learning names, asking about lives, and turning workers into friends. For Wes, no task was just a task, it was an opportunity to connect.

Wes also loved taking his boys on outdoor adventures. He was known for over planning and overpacking to make absolutely sure the adventures were fun and well prepared. Later in life, he found the perfect adventuring partner in his wife. Together they traveled around the globe, making friends far and wide wherever they went.

He had a mischievous sense of humor and a legendary sweet tooth. Dayana often hid the chocolate and cookies, not so much to keep them from him, but to slow him down. Watching Wes savor a brownie or piece of chocolate was, in its own way, a lesson in joy.

Wes was a lifelong athlete. He was in constant motion, enjoying sailboarding, pickleball, basketball, hiking, skiing, and especially Frisbee. A great afternoon for Wes involved time outdoors and a trip to Dairy Queen with friends.

More than anything, Wes loved people. He loved talking with them, listening to them, supporting them, praying for them, and making sure they felt seen.

His favorite people were his family, but it was often hard to tell where family ended and friends began. He loved no one more than Dayana, and his children, Walker and Taylor, their spouses Faith and Caroline, and his beloved grandchildren Eric, Ollie, Henry, and Tatum.

As the youngest of four siblings - Russell (Ramona), the late Martha (and Lou) Lavallee and Ralph (Holly) - Wes cherished his relationships with all of his nieces, nephews and their children. To name everyone Wes loved would be difficult. To name everyone who loved Wes would be impossible.

The loss of his gentle nature, boyish grins, genuine kindness, silly dad jokes, and bright, steady presence leave an immeasurable void in the lives of so many. Wes lived out his strong faith in God every day and leaves behind a legacy not of grand gestures, but of thousands of small, faithful ones. Thoughtful conversations, surprise check-ins, shared projects, warm laughter, and a welcoming home.

And if he could leave us with one final piece of practical wisdom, it would be this: It is always worth the extra 20 seconds to heat up your brownie…or your chocolate chip cookie. He will be deeply, dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Wes's name to one of the local organizations he cared about: BeverlyBootstraps.org, DigDeep.org or EllisSquareFriends.com