Bill Simons

Bill Simons, age 69, of Augusta, passed away Saturday, March 10, 2007. Closed casket visitation with the family will be from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, March 15 at Headley Funeral Chapel, 813 State St. in Augusta. Service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 16, 2007, at the First Baptist Church, 1501 State St., Augusta. Graveside service will be at 3:30 p.m. at Pleasant View Cemetery (Large), Fort Scott.

Bill was born in Vernon County, Missouri, on August 20, 1937. He was the son of the late Robert Ernest and Eva Evelyn Florence (Snow) Simons. Bill graduated from Arcadia High School in 1955 and continued his education at Pittsburg University. After graduating from college Bill taught Industrial Arts at Arkansas City Junior High School. He also worked part time as a switchman for the Santa Fe Railroad and a driver for Bankers Dispatch. Bill then moved to Wichita and began his extensive career in employee and labor relations for Cessna Aircraft in Wichita; Emerson Electric in St. Louis, Missouri and KOCH Industries in Minnesota and Wichita. He retired in 1999. Bill also owned and operated the Trading Station in Augusta from 1994 to 2000. On September 5, 1984, he married Patty Richter in St. Louis. She survives. Other survivors include: son, Mark Simons of Siloam Springs, Ark.; daughters, Cindy Schwemmer and husband Mike of Augusta; Sandy Call and husband Kevin of Augusta; Jennie Simons of Lawrence; a sister Wilma Watt and husband Glen of Frontenac; grandchildren, Sonya Garst and husband Justin of Jenks, Oklahoma; Brian Byers of Enid, Oklahoma; Nicole Schwemmer of Augusta; Sarah Michelle Call of Augusta; Billy and Wyatt Simons of Siloam Springs, Arkansas; great-grandchildren, Trevor, Tanner and Dakota; former wife, Pat (Buffington) Hansen of Frontenac; brother-in-law, Mickey Richter and wife Patty of Greenville, Illinois; sister-in-law, Peggy Biando and husband Steve of St. Louis, Missouri; numerous aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins as well as his special friends, Lucy, Willie, Leo, Maggie, Mollie, Mitzie, Powder, Belle and Shelby. He was a friend to everyone who met him. In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his brother, Robert (Bob) Simons. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society for prostate cancer research.