His early years were spent in Tyler, Texas with his parents, Tom and Patty Simmons and his sister, Mary. He and his family also lived in Frisco, Texas – Starkville, Mississippi – and Lubbock, Texas during the years before high school.
Tom graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler and attended both Tyler Junior College and Texas A&M University. Tom served in the US Army and then spent most of his career in the retail world. His commitment to excellence and hard-work was reflected in each job he had during his adult years. Throughout, his adult years Tom lived in Washington State, Texas and California.
Tom married Francine (Curtis) and together they blended their families on April 12, 2003 in Stockton, California. During their nearly nineteen-year marriage they raised their daughters in Katy, Texas and Stockton, California. Tom was often found supporting his girls in anything and everything they did. During the last fifteen years, Tom has also been a devoted grandfather and teacher to his grandchildren. He loved his family with all of his heart.
Tom loved the landscape of California and would often be heard saying, I love being an hour or two from the beach or the mountains. He had a love for the outdoors; his “green thumb” was evident in the beautiful yard he kept at home and for his in-laws. Tom loved the water, whether it was in pools, lakes or oceans. From the coast in Pass Christian, Mississippi to the beautiful beaches in California, Tom always found a peace near the water.
Tom had a true servant’s heart in caring for the needs of others, whether those needs were met by cooking, encouraging words or teaching the Word of God. It was a joy to him and energized him to see others happy. Tom’s passion for teaching God’s Word was evident in his recent success with his YouTube Channel where he was encouraged by his grand-girls to share teachings with others. From this channel, Tom was connected with believers all over the world who loved that he taught the Word in original context and original meaning.
Tom’s character could be expressed in these words from Second Timothy - He fought the good fight, he finished the race and he kept his faith.
Tom is survived by his wife Francine of Stockton, California and his daughters, Rebecca (Valley Springs, CA), Katelyn and husband Joshua, (Galveston, TX), Danielle (Costa Mesa, CA) and Kaitlyn (London, England) He is also survived by his grandchildren, Kaylee and Kendal Ewing, Kamryn Johnson, Khloe and Kennedy Warren (Valley Springs, CA) and Samuel Burch (Galveston, TX.) Tom is preceded in death by his father, Thomas Roger Simmons, Jr and his sister-in-law Danette Curtis (Joe). He is survived by his mother Patty Simmons, and sister/brother-in-law Mary and Scott Mattingly all of Columbus, Texas. Tom is also survived by his parents-in-law Mary Lou and Michael Hoffman and brothers-in-law, Chris and Joe Curtis, all of Stockton, CA. There are many uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and church family in Texas, California and beyond who were close to Tom throughout his life.
