Samuel Simmons

A memorial service will be Sunday at 7 p.m. at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Rock Island.

He was born Oct. 14, 1934, the youngest of three brothers and two sisters, born to Steve and Herline Simmons.

Sam is survived by one brother, James (Ardell) Simmons, and one sister, Mary Williams, Charleston, S.C.; along with sister-in-law, Rosalind Simmons, Springfield, Ill.; together with a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Sam was born on an island off the shores of Charleston, S.C., called Edisto. This was his boyhood home, where he learned to enjoy catching fish, clams and shrimp with nets he made by hand. Also he learned farming chores along with doing chores around the house with his sister, Mary, who taught him how to cook. He also loved to travel.

In time, he met and married Margie and moved to Springfield, Ill., relocating for available work, and later he settled in Rock Island. Four sons came from that union, Sam Jr. (Stephanie) and their daughter and grandchildren; Gregory (preceded in death) and his children and grandchildren; Michael (Mari), Jeff (Maxine) and their children and grandchildren; also four stepchildren, Diantha Hill and Dawnyal Daniels, both living in Illinois, De Sjeun (Donald) Kitchen and son, and Daniel (Rebecca) Hill, Florida. Sam enjoyed company of many friends, spiritual brothers and sisters along with spiritual sons and daughters.

Years after his first marriage dissolved, Sam met and married Dorraine, his supportive wife, in April 2000. She survives him.

Sam always wanted a daughter. Well, he got the daughters he always wanted. Sam and Diantha and Dawnyal formed the father-daughter bond they always wanted. He conducted family worship faithfully. He will be dearly missed.

Sam's life began to change as a young person while living on Edisto. He didn't realize it at the time, but he often heard, "Don't talk to those people." Not knowing who "those people" were but frustrated because he never got satisfying answers to spiritual questions. He wondered in his heart and never forgot.

When he moved to Springfield, to a boarding house, he heard that same phrase, "Don't talk to those people." The very next day, who did he have occasion to meet? "Those people." Right away, he got answers from the Bible and took their literature. On another occasion while visiting his brother in Springfield, he sat in on his brother's Bible study. He discovered who "those people" were. With continued contact, he decided if he ever joined a religion, it would be Jehovah's Witnesses because they taught the truth from the Bible.

In time, he moved to the Quad-Cities because of available work at John Deere and International Harvester, where he worked as a welder. He retired in 1992, after 32 years from Case-IH welding.

While in the Quad-Cities, he studied the Bible with Brother George Butler and learned to walk in "The Way" of the truth, being baptized July 31, 1970, as an ordained minister. From that point on, he enjoyed the privilege of teaching others the truth found in the Bible. He was regularly in the field ministry, working at the Kingdom Hall, volunteering at the Circuit and District Assemblies, becoming noted as an excellent cook at the assemblies. He even was able to fulfill his desire to be a full-time pioneer of Bible teaching for more than two years and attend Pioneer School. He also served as an elder in the Milan congregation here in Rock Island, in addition to attending a school for elders. He eagerly would tell anyone, "Don't believe what someone tells you is in the Bible. Search the scriptures for yourself and see the truth for yourself." Sam talked in his sleep and the truth was so ingrained in his heart he witnessed in his sleep, overcame objections with reasoning and quoted scriptural proof.

In the last few years, Sam's health began to fail. As things progressed, and aspects of Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 took their toll on his body, he never wavered in his faith and reliance on Jehovah. Though depressed at times, he held on to his hope for the future and what life will be like when the benefits of the kingdom will be extended here on earth, if we keep our eyes on the prize.

A special thank you to all who provided care, support, meals, visits and phone calls during this challenging chapter in his life. A special thank you to In Touch Adult Day Care staff, Rhea Cottingham at Alternatives for Older Adults, Genesis Family Medical Center and Genesis Hospital along with Genesis In-Home Hospice staff for a variety of support in the home and staff of Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf for providing invaluable support in his final hours.