Principal, Western Hills Elementary School.
Patricia Simms passed away on March 22, 2002, at the age of 80. She was born in San Angelo, Texas on August 12, 1941, to Lucille and James Kelley. She grew up in Kermit, Texas and later attended North Texas State University where she met James Simms and the two were soon married for 61 years. After moving to El Paso, Texas in 1964, Pat graduated with an undergraduate degree in Education and eventually earned a master’s degree in Education from UTEP. Her passion for education spanned 32 years in the EPISD first teaching science at Henderson Middle School then was named Assistant Principal at Carlos Rivera Elementary School, Principal at Schuster Elementary School and finally was named Principal at Western Hills Elementary School where she retired. As she missed teaching, Pat went back to become a 4th grade teacher at St. Marks for another 4 years.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kathleen Simms Norwood and is survived by her husband James H. Simms, son Douglas Simms and wife Valerie, son-in-law Fred Norwood, grand children Lauren, Leslie and Ben Simms, Brandy Sanns-Martins, Kelley and James Norwood and great grandchildren Gavyn, Jameson and Rholand Norwood.
Gathering for friends and family will be at Martin Funeral Home West, 128 N Resler Dr, El Paso, TX 79912 on April 23rd from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM with a Prayer Service at 3:30 PM. Burial Services will be held at Nichols Cemetery in Ingram, Texas on April 30th.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MartinFuneralHomeWest.com for the Simms family.
