Leslie Karen Simmons

Our construction family left California in 1956 to move to Pierre, South Dakota for a flood prevention project on the Missouri River. The Oahe dam would take ten years to complete. Our cousin Stephen Mason came to work on the dam one summer and stayed, becoming part of the family. After Pierre, dad took another dam job, in Arkansas. The family moved to beautiful Hot Springs National Park.

Leslie became a southerner immediately. She went to high school at Lakeside, where she became a standout student. She was a cheerleader and a committee member. Her cherished friendships at Lakeside endured all her life. She went to the University of Arkansas, where they “Call the Hogs”. Those big, red plastic hog hats were gifts at Christmas.

She had a degree in Elementary Education but had a summer job that led to a career in retail. Her retail career took her up and down the East Coast. Mark visited every home she had over those years. We would see each other at mother’s every Christmas for a week. She built a life with friends from work.

Jewelry both fine, and costume became her niche. She was a buyer, designer and manufacturer for over 20 years. I was thrilled to meet her on the West Coast for jewelry shows. Gems in Tucson, Los Vegas and Paris.

On a business trip to Los Angeles, she met and married a public defender, Otha Standifer. After just three months Otha was killed in an auto accident.

Semi-retired, she chose the West Cost to become her home. She slipped into our family like butter. Leslie lived in Mesa that was just 15 minutes down the road.

She followed the Suns and the Chiefs. She liked picnics, strapping antique furniture to the roof of the car. Sundays we enjoyed dinners together and watching PBS. She loved Arizona sunsets and collecting an array of flowers. Leslie died on October 2, 2025, of cancer.

Thank you, Hospice of The Valley.

She was preceded in death by her sister Geri Simmons, her cousin Stephen Mason, and her husband Otha Standifer.

She is survived by her sister Ellie Kirkpatrick and her brother Mark Simmons, his wife Gloria Simmons, their twin daughters Susan and Diane Simmons and their families. Dolan and Laura Kirkpatrick and their families. Scott and Lori Kirkpatrick, their children Kaelyn and Jackson. Also surviving, our cousins, Patti, Barbara, and Jack Hughes. Sean and Jennifer Mason. Maureen and Melani McCoy, Michelle LaRock and Lisa Burns.