She was born to a working class family of eight children of German descent in Akron, OH, on February 11, 1935. Her father was Robert Andrew Rhodes, mother Estelle Katherine Rhodes. The family later moved to Chandler, AZ.
Mary attended a Catholic primary school until the 8th grade. She later earned her GED and LPN license at Canadian Valley Votech in El Reno, OK.
Having raised her family Hinton, OK for 25 years, she later moved to Oregon and Washington. In 2013 she moved back to Oklahoma to be close to her son, Bert.
Mary is preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, one sister, and her husband of 60 years, John W. Simmons (November 30, 2012) of Vancouver, WA. She is also preceded by two sons; Paul S. Simmons (January 26, 2018) of Amity, OR; and Kenneth W. Simmons (April 22, 2018) of Vancouver, WA.
She is survived by two sisters and two brothers, son Bert J. Simmons of Coyle, OK; daughters Barbara Simmons of Vancouver, WA; Carol Rhode of Ocean Park, WA; Teresa Simmons of El Reno, OK; 10 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild.
Mary will be memorialized at open memorial services at Hahn-Cook Street & Draper Funeral Directors, 6600 Broadway Extension, Oklahoma City, OK 73116, on Monday, May 7, 2018, at 10:00 AM. She will be cremated and her remains interred at Holy Hope Cemetery in Tucson, AZ.
