Shelba Jerene Simmons

Shelba Jerene Simmons, 78, was born on Nov. 29, 1937, in Nevada to Ithel and Beulah (McWilliams) Darnell. She passed away Oct. 21, 2016.

Jerry, as she was known to family and friends, worked hard all her life. You could find her on a tractor, bucking hay, feeding cows, working in the garden and running the farm in her early years before taking a job at Whitaker Cable in Excelsior Springs where she worked for 23 years inspecting wire for large machinery until the plant closed.

Shortly after the plant closed in 1984, they bought a farm in Roscoe and built the house they currently live in. Once the house was built she missed being around people so she took a job in Clinton working at Rival. There she worked evenings on the assembly line making crock-pots and other kitchen appliances. She worked there until the plant closed.

Jerry could not sit for very long so she would put out a very large garden doing everything from the tilling to the canning. She loved to cook and make Christmas candy and was famous for her delicious enchiladas. If you couldn’t get her on the phone, she was cleaning fish, deer, turkey or the barn, chasing cows or doing something else. She loved to sit in the barn with her friends and family, drink beer and tell stories and laugh. She loved to travel to Florida to visit her “Florida buddy,” Fumiko.

Her close friends and family knew how much she loved to PUSH her luck. Jerry earned a purple heart for being married for 62 years. She loved her family and friends and dedicated her life to making others happy.

Jerry was preceded in death by her parents, one son, Ronald Loyd Simmons, one grandson, Christopher Simmons, and one infant sister.

She is survived by her husband, Lloyd, of the home; children, Darrel Simmons, Pam Day and Ivan Simmons her grandchildren, Brian Simmons, Megan Simmons, Richard Day, Aaron Day, Corey Simmons, Collin Simmons, and Cara Simmons; great-grandchildren, Ethan, Tyler, Jaedyn, Connor, Carter, Cole, Ryan and Camden as well as one brother, Danny Darnell.

Services were held Monday, Oct. 21, in Sheldon Funeral Chapel, El Dorado Springs, with Rev. Jeff Ferguson officiating. Music was  “I Can Only Imagine” and “What A Day That Will Be.” Casketbearers were Collin Simmons, Corey Simmons, Brian Simmons, Richard Day, Cara Beth Simmons and Aaron Day. Interment was in Mound Cemetery, El Dorado Springs.