Apr. 27, 1955 - Mar. 13, 2017
Date of Service: Mar. 24, 2017
Steven Thomas Simmons
BURLEY – Steven Thomas Simmons, age 61, of Burley, died Monday, March 13, 2017, at Minidoka Memorial Hospital as the result of heart failure.
He was born April 27, 1955, at the old Cottage Hospital in Burley, Idaho, to Vernis Loyal and Zella Bernice Lords Hale. At the age of four years he was adopted by Uriel Dean and Blanche Hannah Koyle Simmons. He was the oldest of five children of Dean and Blanche Simmons; three brothers, Kenneth, Robert, and Gary; and one sister, Darla.
He married Gaye Christensen Billingsley, March 19, 1982, in Burley. In this marriage he helped to raise his step-grandson, William “Bill” Asbury. He enjoyed being a father figure to Bill and loved him dearly. He was the light and joy of his life. Steve also loved and enjoyed his time with his two nephews, Brandon and Casey Simmons . He and Gaye were divorced in 2014, but stayed friends until her death on Nov. 23, 2015. Steve never remarried and was living at the time of his death at the home of the Gaye’s niece and her family, where he became very close to his niece’s grandsons and loved them dearly.
He was an Eagle Scout and also earned his Duty to God award. He worked very hard on his Eagle Scout and struggled to earn his swimming merit badge, but he persisted and learned how to swim and float on his back.
He went to school in Burley, graduating from Burley High School in 1973. He then went to Ricks College, prior to its renaming to BYU Idaho, for one year, after which he served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Oakland California Mission.
He worked many jobs, but his true love was driving truck. He was a very happy-go-lucky person and enjoyed visiting with whomever he met. Those who met or worked with him enjoyed his outgoing personality and friendliness. He had a wonderful pleasant personality and was always smiling and happy even when things became tough in his life. His smile and friendship will be missed by many, especially by his family.
Thank you to Christine and Pat Rodgers for the love and support and special care that they gave to Steve for the past two years. Many thanks go out to you from his family for giving him a home and loving care. He loved you both very much and your wonderful family. He talked often of his love for your two grandsons, Kendrix and Tayten.
He was preceded in death by his little brother, Gary Lee Simmons, that he adored and loved and truly missed all his life; his ex-wife, Gaye Simmons; maternal grandparents, Silas Archibald and Hannah Johnson Koyle; paternal grandparents, Cyrus Presto and Valeria May Simmons Williams; one nephew, Tyler Dean Simmons; and his natural parents.
He is survived by his parents, U. Dean and Blanche Simmons of Burley; two brothers, Kenneth Dean Simmons of Brigham City, Utah; Robert Dee Simmons of Roy, Utah; one sister, Darla Sue Simmons of Burley; and grandson, William Asbury of Boise; five nieces and nephews; and six great-nieces-and-nephews.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 24, at the Pella LDS Church, 152 W 400 S, of Burley, with Bishop Trent Robinson officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery.
Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday, March 23, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. preceding the service at the church.
