Marion Palestine Simmons

Marion Palestine Simmons, 86, of Des Arc, passed away May 1, 2016. She was born in Prairie County, Ark. on February 2, 1930, the youngest of five children, to Daniel L. West and Loretta J. McElroy. Marion is survived by her children, Johnny Simmons and wife, Louise of Cabot, and Ronnie Simmons and wife, Kathy of Des Arc; four grandchildren, Jason Simmons and wife, Jenny of Des Arc, Joshua Simmons and wife, Kim of Des Arc, Jocelyn Pannell and husband, Drew of Beebe, and Patrick Simmons of Cabot; five great-grandsons, Ryley and Emerson Pannell, Owen and Ethan Simmons, and Jase Simmons, and numerous nieces and nephews. Marion was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, John H. Simmons; her parents and her four siblings, Fairest West Patterson of Des Arc, Hardy H. West of Corinth, Mississippi, D.L. West Jr. of Des Arc, and Jessie West Burkeen of Knoxville, Tennessee. Marion was a homemaker and a devoted minister's wife for most of her adult life. In addition to being a loving mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother, she was a dedicated Sunday School and bible school teacher, choir member, pianist (when called upon), food server, clean-up person, and a willing volunteer for practically any other job that her church needed her to perform. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, May 5, 2016 at the Center Point Missionary Baptist Church near Hazen, Arkansas with burial at the Hazen Cemetery in Hazen. The family will receive visitors beginning at 5:00 P.M., Wednesday, May 4, at Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Center Point Missionary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 941, Hazen, Arkansas 72064 or Hazen Cemetery, P.O. Box 92, Hazen, Arkansas 72064. Online obituary at www.westbrookfuneralhomehazen.com.