October 8, 1936 –  February 5, 2016 Bennie Joseph Simmons, Sr. age 79 went home to our Heavenly Father on February 5, 2016 surrounded by his family. He was born in Attala, Alabama on October 8, 1936 to Houston and Maud Williams Simmons. He married Jo Ruth Reynolds on November 28, 1958 and moved to Texas in 1966 where he retired after 24 years from long-haul truck driver for Coca-Cola U.S.A. Bennie served 3 years in the U. S. Navy. He loved working in his garden and was a devoted husband and father.
He leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Jo Ruth Simmons of Bells, brother Buddy Dean of Plano, sister Mary Cole of Las Vegas, Nevada, daughter Donna Simmons of Bells, son Bennie Joseph Simmons, Jr. of Bells, and daughters Vickie Pettit of Bells, Bobbie Taraba of Whitewright and Patricia Whitmire of Bells.

Also surviving are grandchildren Tommy Goodwin of Bells, Brandon Simmons of Plano, Donnean Garland of Bells, Miranda Thompson of Tom Bean, Daniel Simmons of Bells, Alex Taraba of Whitewright, Christa Taraba of Sherman, Lauren Selman and Brittny Selman both of Bells, Trevor Whitmire of Bells, Dylan Simmons of Bells, Taylor Whitmire and Heather Wilson both of Bells and K. C. Plyler of Atoka, OK and great grandchildren Joseph and Michael Simmons both of Bells, Jacob Taraba of Whitewright, Wyatt Selman of Bells, Derek and Kendall Goodwin of Bells, Mathew Goodwin of Stephenville, Hayden Thompson of Tom Bean, Bryson Thompson of Tom Bean, Madison Collins of Bells, Easton Hand of Bells, Trinity and Hurley Wilson of Bells and Nora Plyler of Atoka, OK.

Bennie was preceded in death by his parents, step-father Toy Dean, brother Huston Earl Simmons, and sisters Frances Young and Bea McGriff.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00PM Monday, February 8, 2016 at Mullican-Little Funeral Chapel in Bells/Savoy, Texas. Reverend Bill Neal, Jr. of First Baptist Church of Bells will officiate. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Brandon Simmons, Nathan Garland, Bryan Thompson, Joey Pannell, Tommy Goodwin and Brad Whitmire.

The family will receive close friends and family after the service at their residence in Bells. He will greatly missed.