John E. Simmons

John Ellis Simmons, 93, passed away on October 22, 2023. He is survived by Martha Mayo, his beloved wife of 69 years and his 3 daughters: Daphne Templin and husband Robert; Suzanne Guenther and husband Kurt; and Sharon Weatherford and husband Jim. He leaves behind 5 grandchildren: Jessica Roy, Jayme Nemec, Mika Earthspirit, Lauren Stocker and Eric Guenther; as well as 6 great granddaughters. He is survived by his only sibling, his brother, Shelley Simmons.

John was born in Mississippi but spent the majority of his adult life in Houston, Texas. He went to college at the University of Southern Mississippi for a semester before enlisting in the United States Navy. He served for 2 years. Upon his return, he graduated from Southern Miss and began teaching 6th grade. He married Martha in 1953 and they soon moved to Pasadena, Texas for better career opportunities.

John started working at Graybar Electric and continued working in the commercial lighting sector until 1970, when he and a partner opened their own business, Lighting Associates, Inc. They enjoyed much success during Houston’s skyscraper boom. He retired in 1986, but kept busy by flipping houses, marshalling at various golf clubs and volunteering as a handyman at The Women’s Home. He also enjoyed researching the genealogy of his parents and their ancestors.

John’s hobbies included playing golf, collecting coins, traveling with Martha across the globe to 68 countries and rooting for the Houston Oilers and eventually the Texans. He always had a strong faith in God. He was raised in the Baptist Church but spent many years worshipping at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. At MDPC, John and Martha joined the Ancient Mariners, a wonderful group of friends who love to play bridge, cruise and go on weekend retreats.

John was warm, friendly and had a smile for everyone he encountered. He enjoyed meeting new people and was a gregarious person to be around. He loved telling jokes and sharing childhood stories, especially with his brother Shelley at family reunions in Mississippi. John and Martha loved dancing and enjoyed displaying their Jitterbug mastery at wedding receptions. He loved Blue Bell ice cream so much that he would bring a spoon with him to the store so he could enjoy it in the parking lot. Most of all, he loved being surrounded by all his girls and the only boy in 3 generations - his grandson, Eric.

A private ceremony will be held at a future date. Please feel free to share your memories and stories to remind us the joy he brought and just how special of a man he was to all of us.