Kenneth Harold Sims

Kenneth Harold Sims was born January 11, 1928, to Kenneth and Stella Sims in Stoney Point, North Carolina. This family would eventually increase to eight; Betty (Brown), Jimmy, Harold, Bobby, Peggy (Novack), Judy (Cohoon.) At the age of 16 years he left this family to join the Merchant Marines in support of the war effort. He remained in the Merchant Marines throughout WWII and the Korean Conflict.

On August 31, 1949, he married Minnie Mae Cockrell and soon was blessed with two children; Terry Harold and Kathy Dianne. Shortly after the children were born, the decision was made to move to Freeport Texas, where a better job awaited. Later the family moved to Deer Park, where Harold was employed at USI as a mechanical inspector, retiring after many years of service.

The family prospered and blessed Harold and Minnie with three grandchildren, Brandi Sims, Corey Lyon and Heather Lyon (Tupa.) They were then further blessed with six great grandchildren; Tiana Haynes, Jaxson and River Lyon, Rylan, Raylee and Raegan Tupa.

His faith in God, family and friends were of utmost importance. Harold and Minnie faithfully attended First Baptist Church in Deer Park for 55 years and thought of the church as a second family. Whether Harold was golfing with friends at Baywood Country Club, fishing, driving across the county, meeting for breakfast at the Skillet, or assisting in the planning of the next Sims reunion, he always enjoyed their company and they his quick wit and teasing nature.

Curiosity fueled the continuance of his formal and informal (self-taught) education. He had an unquenchable desire to learn how and why things worked the way they did. There was nothing that Harold could not repair. Much of his free time was spent on a friend’s car or repairing a TV that had gone on the fritz. He was always willing to help someone in need, no matter the need.

In his later years his curiosity also fueled his intense interest in the family genealogy. With the assistance of his brother-in-law Ray Cohoon, the family line was traced though the ages. He took great delight in being related, even at a distance, to famous characters in American and British history.

With the love and support of his family surrounding him, Kenneth Harold Sims peacefully passed away at the age of 89 on January 30, 2017. Harold is preceded in death by his parents, brothers, sister Betty and much loved wife of 64 years, Minnie. He is survived by his sister Judy and husband Ray Cohoon and sister Peggy Novack, son Terry and wife Maggie Sims, daughter Kathy and husband Danny Lyon, granddaughter Brandi Sims and her daughter Tiana Haynes, grandson Corey and wife Kristin Lyon, their children Jaxson and River, and granddaughter Heather and husband Jeremy Tupa, their children Rylan, Raylee and Raegan, and the extended family and close friends still residing in North Carolina and Deer Park area.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 3, 2017 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at First Baptist Church-Deer Park 438 East 8th Street, Deer Park, Texas 77536. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2017 at 12:00pm at First Baptist Church-Deer Park. Interment to follow at Grand View Memorial Park.

Flowers may be delivered to the church.