Boots Simmons

Boots Simmons, 78, of Little Rock, went to be with the Lord on March 28, 2012. Boots was born on July 5, 1933 in Augusta, Arkansas to the late Ben and Agnes Simmons. He served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1952-56 and was a veteran of the Korean War. He was a long-time member of Geyer Springs First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, usher and nursery worker for over 40 years. He retired from Yellow Freight Trucking Company in 1995. Boots will be remembered for his kindness and devotion as a husband, loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle. He taught his niece, Terri, how to walk and he will be missed greatly by her, her husband, Hector and their three children. He was lovingly known by his grandchildren as "Papa," and took great pride in his daughter, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and two sisters, he is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Del Simmons; daughter, Robin Thomas and husband, Todd; three grandchildren, Drew Thomas and wife, Danielle, Luke Thomas and wife, Cayla, Brooke Thomas; two great-grandchildren, Braxton and Adison; and a sister, Virginia Kemp of Pryor, Oklahoma. Services will be held today, Friday, March 30 at 10 a.m. at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church, officiated by Dr. Paul Sanders and Rev. Ted Stanton, followed by interment with Military Honors at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander. Visitation will precede the service beginning at 9 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Geyer Springs First Baptist Building Fund. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, (501) 224-2200. Mr. Simmons' online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.