Dec. 7, 1926 — March 11, 2012

VIDALIA — Funeral arrangements for Frank Elwood Simmons, 85, of Vidalia, who died Sunday, March 11, 2012, at Natchez Regional Medical Center, will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Young’s Funeral Home in Ferriday with the Revs. Bill McCullin and Michael Cowan officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.

Visitation will be 9 to 10 a.m.Tuesday at the funeral home.

Mr. Simmons was born Dec. 7, 1926, in Bogalusa, the son of Edna Simmons and Milton Simmons. He was a resident of Vidalia. He retired after 36 years from the International Paper Company in Natchez and was an avid fisherman, hunter and most of all frog-gigger. Frank loved spending time with his family and grandchildren, and there was many a time you would see him at one of his great-grandchildren’s ball games. He served his country in the Merchant Marine in World War II.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Claudia Cooper, and one great-granddaughter, Sarah Cowan.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Obye Jo Simmons; one daughter, Derinda Smith and husband, Ricky, of Vidalia; four grandchildren, Stephen Cowan and wife, Kim, of Abeline, Texas, Ashley Elveston of Natchez, Michael Cowan and wife, Chasity, of Doloroso, and Alicia Smith of Vidalia; 11 great-grandchildren, Cody Cowan, Savanah Cowan, Cole Cowan, Kaitlyn Cowan, Braxtyn Elveston, Hayden Cowan, Cory Cowan, Selah Cowan, Maggie Cowan, Chloe Curlee and Joel Cowan; one brother, Billy J. Simmons and wife, Geneva, of Baton Rouge; one sister, Betty Fornea and husband, Bo, of Vidalia, and two special friends, Bob Foley and Kim Boothe.

Pallbearers will be Cody Cowan, Cole Cowan, Cory Cowan, Craig Simmons, Dustin Perry, Hayden Cowan, Roger Simmons and Tommy Simmons.

Honorary pallbearers will be Arthur Lewis, Bo Fornea, Glen Whittington, Leo Boothe, Rickey Smith and Ronnie Raley.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be made to www.youngsfh.com.