Catherine Moore Simmons departed this life on September 13, 2015 at the age of 81 surrounded by her loving family. Catherine was born Minnie Catherine Moore to her parents Charlie and Nellie Moore in Big Cove, Alabama on the first day of spring, March 20, 1934, with an eight inch snow on the ground. Catherine ripped and romped the playgrounds of Big Cove Elementary and Junior High and spent the rest of her school years at Madison County High School in Gurley, Alabama, where she graduated in 1952. In the forties and fifties she worked at three stores on the Southside of the downtown Huntsville square, Farmers Trading Post, owned by Mr. J.B. Pitsinger and Mr. E.N. Womack; Jeff Darwin Grocery; and J.E. Sandlin Hardware Company. She made many friends while working there, Mr. John Harrison and Mr. Daniel Harrison of Harrison Brothers Hardware, Mr. Jim Terry and Mr. Ira Terry of T.T. Terry Company and Reverend Frederick H. Heidelberg were a few that she saw as special friends and talked of often. She became a member of Huntsville Holiness Church in 1954. She was a loving and faithful member from that day forward and one that her church family will greatly miss. Catherine was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Nellie Moore, her husband, W. Paul Simmons, one son, Harold Simmons and his wife, Libby Simmons, one brother Charles Nelson Moore and his wife, Carolyn, one brother G.W. (Dub) Moore, and one sister, Florence Moore Dean. She leaves behind to cherish the memories of her life, son, Steve Simmons and wife, Beverly, daughter Suzie Simmons Kelly and husband, Jack, and son Paul G. Simmons and wife Becky. Her sister, Fay Moore Gibbs and husband Bobby, sisters-in-law, Ora Belle Gray, Bernice Medlin and husband Virgil, Marie Vickers and husband, Ronald and one brother-in-law, Buddy Simmons, and wife Janie. Eleven grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. Visitation will be Tuesday, September 15, 2015 from 2:00 to 8:00 pm at Berryhill Funeral Home. The funeral service will be Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 2:00 pm at Huntsville Holiness Church with Reverend Jack Kelly and Reverend Frank Duvall officiating. Interment will be at Maple Hill Cemetery. Berryhill Funeral Home is assisting the family.
