Ivy Simmons Roe

Like so many of us, Ivy Simmons Roe was brought up during challenging times. Her parents, Walker E. Simmons and Myrtle Hawkins lived in Rialto, San Bernardino County in California when Ivy was born on September 23, 1926, the youngest of six children from this marriage. Ivy’s biological mother passed away when she was about 8 years old. Her father remarried and the family then moved to Oregon for a time. Then through her many years Ivy lived in California, Washington DC, Illinois, Kansas, Texas and finally made her home in Colorado. Here she joined many members of her extended family and made many close friends all along the way.

I met Ivy singing in the choir at Faith Community Church in Littleton, Colorado. We were a small choir but mighty under the direction of the very talented Eric Weinstein. At that time, I quickly became aware that Ivy was an especially grand and fine lady.

One of Ivy’s passions in life was her love of opera. She served as the president of the opera board in Modesto, California. She attended several local opera events in the Denver area.

Another life passion for Ivy was world travel. I was fortunate enough to accompany Ivy on several adventures through Ellie Leinaweaver’s Focus Travel Club starting in 2010. Over 20 trips including Croatia (2017), Scotland (2018), Oberammergau, Germany (2010), Rhone River in France (2016), Alaska (2018), Sicily (2015), Tulip Festival in Holland (2019) and many more. As the years passed, Ivy would always say when she was just about to board the plane, “this is going to be my last trip”. However, when the next trip was announced, she would sign up and be on the very next plane to yet another exotic destination despite her advanced age and declining health and mobility.

Ivy did not have children of her own but leaves behind a beloved family including her niece Phyllis Gance, several grandnieces, Bonnie-Gance-Cleveland, Katherine Gance and Jenny Bissonnette, a grandnephew- Robert Gance, Jr. and, a myriad of great grandnieces and nephews.

Ivy served as an inspiration and mentor to all whose lives she touched. She loved children and found great joy in teaching and tutoring. Her extensive education included a 5-year degree in psychology and English literature from U.C. Berkley, just shy of obtaining a doctoral degree, a Master’s Degree in Education for the hearing impaired from Gallaudet University and from Colorado State College (Greeley) a degree in vocational counseling.

Her employment history included teaching at the Deuel Institute for 12 years in Tracy, California, tutoring graduate students at Howard University in Washington D.C., working with the hearing impaired at Gallaudet University, teaching inmates in the California prison system, teaching at the Salina, Kansas Rehabilitation Institute and also teaching the hearing impaired and patients at Fort Logan Mental Health Institute at Denver. She worked in these various positions for 77 years.

With her finely tuned sense of humor, she teased she “worked her way into prison, then into rehab and finally earned her freedom in retirement!” She also enjoyed tutoring children when she finally retired.

Ivy’s love of life extended to her 4-legged pets of which she and many. Whatever dog was most recent in her life was her new favorite. Her last pet was a beloved little dog named Gizmo, a very sweet and smart Japanese Chin that immediately stole her heart after she adopted him from Denver Dumb Friends League.

Ivy’s outgoing spirit made her a perfect compliment to our Red Hat Society Club called the Sassy Lassies. Our fun-loving Queen Mum, Irma Karnes through her generosity and kindness took Ivy under her wing and provided much comfort and friendship to Ivy these last years. Irma became Ivy’s guardian angel, along with her wonderful neighbors, Theresa Smith and Kevin Rogers. Other friends include Barbara Nickels and myself, Elaine French who accepted Ivy into our hearts and homes and considered her to be family.

Anyone would find it difficult to know a more refined, beautiful and intelligent lady than Ivy Simmons Roe. May she rest in peace here on earth while her spirit is busily touring all the portals of heaven.

Written by her friend, Elaine French of Littleton Colorado.