Abraham David Sims

Abraham David Sims, seventy-two years old, was born on February 27, 1944, in New Orleans, Louisiana and transitioned to be with the Lord on November 15, 2016. He was the baby of the family born to Calis Sencial Sims, Jr., and Alberta Handy Sims. Abraham was fondly known by several names including: Abe, Dave, Uncle Dave, Uncle Abe, Dad, Daddy, and Poppa.

Abe graduated from Carver High School, in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1962, and decided with a few of his friends to join the United States Air Force on June 4th. He received an Associate’s Degree while in the Air Force in Business Administration. He served in several international assignments. His last major position was on the Inspector General Team and he was ranked as a Senior Master Sergeant upon his retirement on November 1, 1986. He honored our country with twenty-four and a half years of service and traveled the world. Abe continued his career in a civilian capacity working at the State of Texas in General Purchasing and Services and then at Bergstrom International Airport in Security and Identification Administration. In January 2009, he decided to retire completely and focused on enjoying life, traveling to new places, and visiting family and friends across the United States and several countries. Abe and Iris were always on the road!

In 1963, Abe met his beautiful future bride Iris Mae Theard at a relative’s event and told her soon after that he would marry her one day. After a short courting, on December 12, 1964, Abraham and Iris married. They spent their first years in Ft. Worth, Texas, and then in 1966, Abe went to Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines and returned to Waco, Texas in November 1967. Abe and his family relocated to Austin, Texas and remained there until August of 1972, and then moved to Madrid, Spain until 1976. The family returned to the United States and was stationed in Bossier City, Louisiana. Abe took a remote assignment in King Salmon, Alaska in July 1978, and the family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. Upon his return, the family joined him in Austin, Texas and became members of Holy Cross Catholic Church. After moving to Southwest Austin Area in February 1983, the Sims family became members of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church.

Abraham was an awesome husband, father, mentor, friend, and courageous man of faith. He made a wonderful and adventurous life for his family and was a great protector. He was a Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree and volunteered in many ministries and was a coordinator and participant in Men’s ACTS. Abe and Iris supported their families and have shared their home with many relatives and several international exchange students. One of his favorite topics was politics and he was an avid CNN and MSNBC viewer and published several articles in the Austin American Statesman local newspaper throughout the years. He also enjoyed watching wresting, boxing, football, and basketball. Abe did not dance much, but his favorite song was “Just Got Paid” and he would get down to it in the family room. Abe was a sharp dresser, had a great heart, gave the best hugs, and had the most wonderful laugh and smile.

Abe is survived by his wife of fifty-one years, Iris, two daughters, Chandra Leah Sims Mills (Christopher Mills, son-in-law) and Denise Veronica Sims (Eric James), three sisters, Juanita Murphy (John deceased), Alberta Clarice Sims, and Lena Gaither, one brother, Calis Sencial Sims, III, two sisters-in-law, Rocelyn Metoyer (Ronnie Sr. deceased), Donna Taylor (Ernest); two brothers-in-law Leroy Theard (Joyce) and Jerry Theard (Christine); and one Aunt, Dorothy Handy Peavy. He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, David Anthony Sims, two brothers, Andrew Sims and Donald Sims (Wilma), and one brother in-law Edgar Theard Jr. (Rose). Abe leaves to cherish his memory several God-children (Stacy Phillips, Chanda and Christopher Gaither, Phillip Monday, Amanda Conley, and Brian Theard), granddaughters, Emaini Spencer and Dalayna Mitchell, grand-nephew namesake Miles David Gaither, and a host of many relatives and close friends.

We extend our thanks to everyone for your continuous prayers, messages, visits, and thoughts from near and far. They have comforted us and will continue to provide us with strength and peace.

We want to give special thanks to Dr. Teresa Coats, Abe’s primary physician, Dr. Allison E. Gorrebeeck, and the Austin Cancer Center Team at Lakeway for their wonderful care and support of Abe.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M., Sunday, November 27, 2016, at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home with a Recitation of the Rosary at 3:00 P.M. Visitation will continue at 9:15 A.M. to 9:45 A.M., Monday, November 28, 2016, at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 4800 Convict Hill Road followed by A Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:00 A.M., with Father Pat Coakley, Celebrant. Interment will follow at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park.

Honoring Abe as pallbearers will be Christopher Gaither, Kenneth Metoyer, Ronald Metoyer, Warren Metoyer, Jr., Christopher Mills, Michael Theard, and Spencer Theard. Honorary Pallbearers will be Wilfred Haynes, Eric James, Jake Johnson, Phillip Latson, Dale Monday, Harry Phillips, Jerry Theard, Sr., Leroy J. Theard, Rev. Leroy Theard.

In lieu of flowers, please provide a memorial/honorary gift amount of your choice to be made in Abe's memory to the Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org/donate.