Lowell Houston Simmons, 76, of Florence, died on Friday, August 19, 2016.
A service to remember Lowell’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 27, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church of Florence. The Rev. Robert Sparkman will officiate. A time of visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary of the church.
Lowell was born in Sharon, Tennessee on June 2, 1940. The family moved to Ferndale, Michigan where he grew up. He returned to Tennessee to attend David Lipscomb College in Nashville. After completing his education, he was employed as a tooling engineer by Murray Ohio Manufacturing Company for 37 ½ years where many lasting friendships were formed with co-workers. He especially enjoyed playing golf with the “Tweety Birds” in Lawrenceburg.
To know Lowell was to know of his love for ice cream (which he always shared with his dogs Izzy and Harry), his addiction to Coca-Cola (nectar of the gods), and his participation as a charter member of the Shoal Creek Coffee Club, which met at the home of Charlie Thomas for approximately 20 years. Many of the world’s problems were discussed and solved at those early morning meetings.
Lowell was passionate about the Boy Scouts of America organization and served as a leader of the Middle Tennessee Council in Nashville and Lawrenceburg.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Florence and enjoyed volunteer work at the Help Center for many years.
His favorite holiday was the 4th of July when his children and grandchildren would choreograph elaborate fireworks displays from his dock on Shoal Creek. He was so proud of his children and thoroughly loved special days with them.
Lowell is survived by his wife of 40 years, Gwynne Williams Simmons; three children, Scott Simmons (Amy), of Land O’Lakes, Florida, Stephen Simmons (Michelle) of Old Hickory, Tennessee and Paige Simmons of Nashville, Tennessee; grandchildren Tavner, Addison and Keaton Simmons, and Claire and Ella Simmons; a niece, Vicki Longstaff of Pennsylvania and a close cousin, Curt Simmons of Michigan.
He was preceded in death by his parents James Roscoe Simmons and Lilla Dell Simmons, and a sister Patricia Stasiak.
At the close of the day, Lowell could often be seen sitting on his boat dock with a gin and tonic raising a thankful salute to the heavens.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to the First UnitedMethodist Church for the Help Center or to the Greater Alabama Council, Boy Scouts of America, 2211 Drake Avenue SW, Huntsville, AL 35805, in memory of Lowell Simmons.
Elkins Funeral Home of Florence would like to invite you to leave stories and condolences online at www.elkinsfuneralhome.com
