William Ernest Simmons

Bill was born November 2nd, 1947 at the Wray Community Hospital in Wray Colorado. He passed away August 3rd, 2024 at the Banner Health Hospital in Greeley Colorado after a brief illness at the age of 76.

He was the first child of Delbert “Shorty” Simmons and Mildred (Smith) Simmons and was named after both of his Grandads: William Simmons and Ernest “Dutch” Smith.

At an early age Bill was diagnosed with a developmental disability which limited his ability to talk.  For the first 7 years of his life Bill lived with his parents and siblings Bob, Jim and Nancy on a small farm up the river from Beecher Island and enjoyed all the usual activities that farm kids do. Just before his 8th birthday he left the family home and went to live at the Ridge Home in Wheatridge Colorado. When the Ridge Home closed, he moved to Pueblo for a few years and then later moved back to Ridge Home when it reopened. Later in life he found his permanent home at Eastern Colorado Services for the Developmentally Disabled. For his first many years he resided at the Ft Morgan Home and also worked at the Noresco Sheltered Workshop where he separated, counted and packaged fishhooks and also strung fishing line onto spools for the Eagle Claw fishing Company and continued to work there even after his eyesight began to fail him.

When his eyesight finally failed, he moved to Sterling to the Harris Street Home where he was living until his passing in Greeley.  Bill loved his home life and enjoyed a good party with music and could even be persuaded to dance a little. He loved his ECSDD family, and they very clearly loved him as well. With their loving care he was able to enjoy a wonderful quality of life. Bill loved listening to music and was very fond of Patsy Cline, the rock bands Kiss and AC/DC amongst others. Wherever Bill lived our family visited him often. He enjoyed the card rides, the time spent with us, and the treats that we would take him. We was especially fond of Vianna sausages, potato chips, sugar wafer cookies and Hershey bars and would be quite upset if you failed to bring them when you visited until said treats were purchased and delivered safely to him, bringing that wonderful smile to his face. After the passing of his parents his siblings continued to visit. His favorite family visits were when Jim and Nancy would take him to McDonalds for his favorite fast food of a BigMac Meal and of course the car rides that we all enjoyed so much together.

Bill loved and lived his life to the fullest and faced the many challenges in his life head-on with an unmatched courage. Bill was a very beautiful and sweet man, who touched our lives in so many ways and will be greatly missed.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents Delbert “Shorty” Simmons and Mildred (Smith) Simmons and brother in law LeRoy Wright. He is survived by his siblings Robert and wife MerryLu Simmons, Jim and wife Carole Simmons and Nancy (Simmons) Wright.

A memorial service will be held August 16, 2024 at Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home at 10:00am.