Francis "Kip" Palmer Simmons

May 30, 1958 – May 24, 2024

Francis Palmer “Kip” Simmons was born on May 30, 1958, in Mobile, Alabama, and moved to Birmingham at a young age. Kip graduated from Mountain Brook High School and attended the University of Colorado in Gunnison. He traveled to and worked in the wilds of Alaska as a young man and there developed an abiding love of nature and wildlife. He ultimately returned to his home, fell in love with Debbie, his bride of 37 years, and raised their two sons, Drew and Whit, to whom he passed his love of the outdoors, including hunting, fishing and dirt bike riding, as well as his passion for music and Alabama football. He also started a stone contracting business in the Birmingham area, a fitting vocation for him.

Kip possessed a kind and generous heart and would do anything he could to help anyone with a problem. He loved nothing more than to be surrounded by his (countless) close friends and large extended family, enjoying a good laugh over a good meal and a shared story. Kip never met a stranger, rarely met a rule he could not break, a boundary he could not push, or a story he could not stretch. He had an uncanny ability to make most people love him. His energy was relentless, his joy contagious and he never lost the mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

A few years ago, Kip was diagnosed with a rare brain disease, corticobasal degeneration. While this disease slowly began to erode his ability to speak and move with agility, it did not diminish his passion for life or the things that meant the most to him. Kip understood what the disease would take from him; yet he met that challenge with uncommon courage and grace and never complained. Sharing time with friends and family during this time, along with their loving support, meant a lot to Kip, for which he was exceedingly grateful.

Kip passed away Friday, May 24, 2024, one week shy of his 66th birthday, at home surrounded by his family (and Marge, his beloved Staffordshire Bull Terrier). The family would like to give special thanks to Kip’s patient and kind caregivers Robin Hudson, Khadijah Williams and hospice nurse Michelle Smith.

Kip was preceded in death by his father Richard Earl Simmons, Jr. He is survived by his mother, Mary Carolynne “Lynne” O’Rorke Simmons; his wife, Deborah Lloyd Simmons; his sons, Andrew Edgar “Drew” Simmons (Walker) and Francis Wheeler Smithson “Whit” Simmons (Mary Mattson); his siblings, Richard Simmons (Holly), Catherine S. Rohrstaff, Paul Simmons (Wendy), Missy S. Jones (David) of Birmingham, and Marion S. Garrett (Patrick); former brother-in-law, Jon Rohrstaff, of Snowmass, Colorado; his father, King Palmer, Point Clear, Alabama; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Kip was a member of Independent Presbyterian Church where he started the Lakeview AA Group and attended meetings until he could no longer walk safely on his own.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at Independent Presbyterian Church at 11:30 a.m. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 10 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition Inc – 1214 81st Street South Birmingham, 35206 AL or Independent Presbyterian Church Children's Fresh Air Farm at 3100 Highland Ave, Birmingham, 35205.