Richard Thomas "Ricky" Simon

1982 - 2018

Our Beloved Ricky Simon, age 36 years, 3 months and 9 days, left us behind on August 26, 2018 at 3:34am after bravely and graciously battling a brain tumor that he successfully and heroically survived for the last 33 years of his life. He outlived all the experts' predictions and not only survived, but thrived. He was an example of grace, dignity and loving kindness to all who knew him, and we are extraordinarily sad and lost without him. He lived with his parents, Rick and Kim Simon, on Tybee Island, Georgia for the last several months of his life, but before that he lived and thrived independently in his own home with the support of his parents, his family and the staff at Employability (Coastal Center for Developmental Services) and Region 5 DBHDD. He was incredibly smart and sweet and all who knew him were blessed to be the recipient of his loving kindness and fortunate to be schooled by his zest for life. He continued to grow and develop and blossom in his humanness and his abilities throughout his entire life and lived a life as an example of what we all should aspire to.

He was born May 17, 1982 in Ypsilanti, Michigan and he attended Clinton and Tecumseh Schools and graduated from Tecumseh High School in Michigan. He worked at Coastal Center for Developmental Services and was active in several hobbies - bowling was his favorite. He was a member of The Wild Ones bowling league and loved spending time with his family, his friends and his teammates.

Before the re-occurrence of the tumor he lived independently with unending success. He had just learned how to call and text on his own smart phone before being diagnosed with the recurrent tumor in February 2018. He was growing and blossoming into an adult. He was making his own choices while still letting us know we mattered to him with weekly grocery shopping and Thursday night dinners and Friday night Tybee Island City - Rusty Parrot goes to Agave. He loved celebrating holidays, birthdays and life. We are so thankful that one of the pleasures he got to experience again when he felt good enough to go out to eat with his siblings and nieces and nephew when they came for our yearly family reunion vacation in July. God Bless our children and grandchildren for making that happen, especially this year. It meant so much to him and he was working hard at getting better and healthier and stronger right up to the moment that he was taken from us.

We may lose our mortal coil, but because we are made of stardust, energy and love, the soul, the essence, energy that we are, in whatever form it takes, continues. And do we get to choose what form that takes? We like to think so, because we want to show the world what a beautiful soul he is and will always continue to be for eternity. His energy, our energy, everyone who loves Ricky is attached cosmically for eternity in whatever form that is. Maybe a flock of birds or the waves rolling on the shore or sprinkled on our loved ones. The same people who have been drawn to us in Ricky's death, who have shown an abundance of love and kindness to him, to his family, to all of us, is an extension of the love and kindness Ricky has shown to us all his life. It is a true testament to the life Ricky led. With loving kindness to all. We were so incredibly lucky to have him in our lives. He taught us how to be more compassionate, more patient, more accepting, more grateful and so hopeful. Thank you, Ricky, for showing us how to live and how to love. May we be worthy to continue your practice of loving kindness for the rest of our days until we meet again.

Ricky is survived by his parents, Rick and Kim Simon, his biological mother, Sherry Hill, his Sister Kelly (Simon) TenCate, Brother-In-Law Justin TenCate, Nieces Autumn, Alexis, Ava, Audrey, Alaina TenCate, Nephew Oliver TenCate, Brother Ian Simon, Niece Elly Simon, Brother Quin (Zachary) Simon, Brother Jacob Hill, Grandparents Omar and Flora Simon, Grandparents Harold and Margaret Stone and numerous friends and biological, adopted and furry family members.

The family will receive friends from 1-2pm on Sunday, September 2, 2018 at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Islands Chapel and a Memorial Service will be held immediately following at 2pm in the Islands Chapel.

The family suggests any remembrances be made in Ricky's memory to The Organization for Autism (OAR) Research https://researchautism.org.

Please sign our on-line guestbook at www.foxandweeks.com