Mary Kathryn Simmons

Mary K. Simmons (nee Mortag), 96, passed away at Nathan Adelson Hospice on October 9, 2016. Mary K. was born in Cascade, Montana on January 24, 1920 to Adolph and Mary Mortag, Cascade Montana area cattle ranchers. She received her bachelor and master's degrees from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, and worked in various Montana counties as an Extension Agent before moving to Arizona in 1963 to join the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Services. In 1969 she received the Distinguished Service Award from Senator Paul Laxalt and later was invited to the White House by Richard Nixon to be honored for her work on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. She continued her work as an Extension Agent in Cochise County, Arizona until her retirement from the University of Arizona with the title of Professor Emeritus. In 1982 she received the Outstanding Alumni Award from her alma mater, Montana State University.

Mary K. embraced life and was always up for a challenge. She played on her high school basketball team, participated in school plays and was student council senior class president. While in college she learned to fly a single-engine Piper Cub aircraft and won several awards for her dancing prowess. She was independent and resided in her own residence until very recently when she suffered a mild stroke. She loved people and people loved her. She will be deeply missed.

Mary K. was preceded in death by her parents and her three brothers, Ken, Edward (Bud) and Dan and by her grandson, Brian Charters. She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Charters (Gary), her son, Ed Simmons (Diane); by her four grandchildren: Laura Mitchell (Mike), Joseph Simmons (Liana), Kimberly Charters Witte, and Stephen Charters; and by her four great-grandchildren: Madison Mitchell, and Emma, Ava and Connor Simmons.

Services will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 26 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 2300 Sunridge Heights Parkway, Henderson, Nevada 89053. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made by mail to the St. Francis of Assisi Building Fund, 2300 Sunridge Heights Parkway, Henderson, Nevada 89053.