Shirley E. Simkins

1930 - 2012

ABINGDON - Shirley Elaine Simkins, 82, Abingdon, died at 10:33 a.m. Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at the Knox County Nursing Home in Knoxville.
Shirley was born May 5, 1930, in Galesburg, the daughter of Ernest and Cecile (Collins) Roberson. She married Ross "Jack" Simkins on Oct. 14, 1951, in Abingdon. Jack passed away April 1, 1987. She also was preceded in death by her parents and her older sister, Marilyn Butler of Abingdon.
Shirley is survived by her three children, Sherry (Bob) Bilbo of Seymour, Tenn., Cynthia (John) Mangieri of Davenport, Iowa, and Thomas (Marcy) Simkins of Galesburg. She was openly proud of her seven loving grandchildren, Jackie, Grace and Louis Mangieri, John and Jane Simkins, Joseph (Elena) Bilbo and Jennifer (Joe) Fisher. She had five great-grandchildren, Hudson, Brody, Colton and Dawson Fisher and Lauren Bilbo. Shirley's brother Charles "Chuck" (Helen) Roberson resides in Alexandria, Va., and her sister Jean Wolford lives in Wilmore, Ky. She leaves behind several nieces and nephews.
Shirley graduated from Abingdon High School in 1948 and Galesburg Cottage Hospital School of Nursing in 1951. While in high school, she worked at the former Sand's Pharmacy and Bird's Insurance in Abingdon. After receiving her nursing degree, she worked for 33 years as a registered nurse, many of those as a supervisor at Galesburg Mental Health Center, before retiring in 1984. She was a full-time, after-hours homemaker, spending her "spare" time at her kids' athletic and school events while helping Jack with the bookwork of his general contracting business.
She was a member of Abingdon Christian Church. She enjoyed singing in the church choir and the community church choir. She was a member of Kum Dubble Klass, Jean Wolford Circle and Jolly Grandmother's Club. She organized funeral dinners at her church for many years while also assisting with meals for Faith Weavers and vacation Bible school.
Shirley and Jack volunteered for many years at the Abingdon Fall Festival, where she supervised the kids events. She was a tireless member of Abingdon Fire Department Auxiliary from 1956 to 1987 and served as a past leader with Girl Scouts. She was a past member of Blue Bell Bible Study and Widow and Widowers Support Group. In later years, she enjoyed adult swim aquanastics at the YMCA pool and finished many a day's thoughts inside a good book.
Shirley lived most all of her life at the corner of Pennsylvania and South streets, where she maintained a seemingly continuous search for the perfect outdoor sweat via the working end of a rake, lawnmower, flower pot or snow shovel. She was a dedicated friend to many as witnessed by her daily delivery of delicacies such as Shirley's lasagna, butter mints and Eleanor's noodles to those in need in the Abingdon community. Her short Friday-night sojourns across the street to support her beloved Commandos were a high point of her week. She enjoyed a good laugh, even at her own expense, and she married the right man to prove it. But above all, she never missed an opportunity to boast, even to excess, on the exploits and achievements of those she loved most.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 12, 2012, at Abingdon Christian Church. The Rev. Darryl McDaniel will officiate. Burial will follow in Abingdon Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. today at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Abingdon Chapel.
Memorials may be made to Abingdon Christian Church or the Knox County Nursing Home. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.