James W. Simmons

SIMMONS, James W. age 72 of Dayton went to be with the Lord on Wednesday March 28, 2018. He leaves behind his advocate and sister, Carolyn Simmons; uncle, Robert Mann of New Paris, Ohio; his 101-year-old aunt, Edith Mann of Somerville, Ohio; and as well as cousins and friends. James is preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Anna M. (Mann) Simmons; gone but not forgotten, his friend, Joyce Barrett. Jim fought to live for almost 32 years and God grant his request countless times. After his accident on April 25, 1986 he had a fractured skull and wrist, he was in a coma, and was on a vent for the first month in the hospital. He later had a stroke while in the hospital and the doctors said he wouldn’t live. In 2006 his life changed again he had to have a nose feeding tube and later a stomach tube. For a brief while he was able to drink with thickener in it and pureed food. The first three years in a nursing home he didn’t speak. After he came home he learned to speak single words. When it was impossible for Jim to live, God showed that nothing was impossible with God. Thank you to Northridge Free Will Baptist Church for your prayers and all those who prayed for Jim. Thank you to all the many people for the care he received and the hospitals. Special thanks to Dr. Georges Yacoub, who got Jim on a vent in the ER last July, and also to Dr. Jose Rodriguez, who did two tracheotomies on Jim to keep him alive, when no other surgeon would do it. Special thanks as well to all the Doctors, nurses, and aids at MVH Pulmonary unit and his primary nurse Karen White. His mother was dedicated to keeping him alive and a devoted caregiver for years. When she could no longer be primary caregiver his sister Carolyn had to take over as caregiver for her mom and Jim. Jim’s main enjoyments were eating, listening to country music and TV. Family will receive friends on Monday April 2, 2018 from 4:30-6:30 PM at Tobias Funeral Home Beavercreek Chapel, 3970 Dayton-Xenia Road. A funeral service will be will held at the funeral home on Tuesday April 3, 2018 at 11 AM with Pastor Tim Hamilton officiating. Burial will follow in Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.tobiasfuneralhome.com.