Mary Lou Standish Simmons left this world to go to her home with God on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Mary Lou was born July 15, 1929, in Kansas City, Kan., to Lucille (Bray) and Ralph Henry “Bodie” Standish.
She graduated from Rosemont High School in Kansas City in 1946 and attended Baker University before marrying James “Jim” Carlisle Simmons on July 21, 1948. They lived in New Orleans, La., Cushing, St. Louis, Mo., Overland Park, Kan., and Kansas City, Kan., before moving to Tahlequah in 1961, where her husband later owned the Ben Franklin Store. Later they owned Simmons Custom Frame Shop.
Mary Lou's greatest efforts were devoted to her family and the South College Church of Christ. She was a very popular Bible class teacher of two–year olds.
Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, Bodie and Lucille Standish, her husband James Simmons and her in-laws Sterling and Flora (Day) Simmons.
She is survived by her six children, Jamie and husband Bill Thompson, Sherry and husband Gary Morgan O.D., Sally Evans, Carol and husband Jake Schweikhard, David Simmons and wife Charlotte, and Jim Simmons and wife Susan. She is also survived by her 13 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday, Aug. 4, at 2 p.m., at the South College Church of Christ. Interment will be in the Tahlequah City Cemetery under the direction of Hart Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6–8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 3.
Memorial contributions may be in Mary Lou's memory to the Burnt Cabin Christian Camp, P.O. Box 42, Tahlequah, OK 74465.
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