September 6, 1935 ~ January 27, 2026
Winifred June Simmons, 90-year-old Vinita resident, passed away on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at the Windridge Nursing Center in Miami. She was born on September 6, 1935, in Cleo Springs, Oklahoma to Claude Leo Hannigan and Fern Mae (Ring) Hannigan. June graduated from Elk City Kansas High School in 1953. She was married Jack Earl Jolly; he preceded her in death in 1970. She later married Carl Simmons on August 23, 1973 and moved to Vinita in 1976. Carl had Simmons Dozer Service and June worked as his bookkeeper. June also loved to work in her yard and garden and kept her house immaculate. She also enjoyed going to Branson, Silver Dollar City and shopping with her girls. June was a member of the White Oak Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Jack Earl Jolly in 1970 and Carl Simmons in 2014, siblings, Tom Hannigan, Dolly Mae Hedges, Lavona Watson, great-grandchildren, Crede, and Addison.
The family includes her children, Wayne Jolly and wife Judy of Vinita, Stephen Jolly of Bartlesville, Reta Young and husband Bruce of Vinita, Tamera Dunham and husband Glynn of Independence, Kansas; siblings, Robert Hannigan of Hutchinson, Kansas, Ronald Hannigan and wife Carrie of Independence, KS, Claudene Stephens of Jamestown, NC, Patricia Watson and husband Phil of Havanna, KS, Donna Gillman and husband Larry of Independence, KS; grandchildren, Brad, Jeff, Joy, Zach, Leigha, Travis, Lindsay, Kimberly and Adam; ten great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026, at the Burckhalter-Highsmith Chapel in Vinita.
The celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Burckhalter-Highsmith Chapel in Vinita, with Pastor Leland Bartlett officiating. Interment will follow at the Fairview Cemetery in Vinita. Online condolences may be made at www.highsmithfh.com or on the funeral home Facebook page. Arrangements are in the care of the Burckhalter-Highsmith Funeral and Cremation Services of Vinita. Vinita’s only locally family owned and operated funeral home.”