Lucille Simmons
Joe Lucille Simmons, 97, of Breckenridge, Texas, passed away peacefully on September 26, 2024. Family will welcome friends and family for a time of visitation at the Elliott Street Church of Christ Activity Center, Tuesday, October 1, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Graveside services will be held the following day at 11 a.m. at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Walnut Springs, Texas.
Joe Lucille Royal was born January 20, 1927, in Bosque County, near Meridian, Texas. She was the youngest child of James Clark Royal and Lillie Rosenquist Royal. She lived in Bosque County her entire childhood, graduating from Walnut Springs High School in 1944. She married Robert (Bob) Simmons in April 1946. They had just met in January of that year. They were happily married for 50 years when Bob passed away in 1996.
She worked at an ice cream shop and at Woolsworth to help put Bob through mortuary school in Houston. Then they returned to Meridian, where they were both employed by Brister Funeral Home. Their children, Bill and Melinda, were both born during this time. In 1957, they moved to Midland, Texas. Lucille then went to beauty school. In 1963, the family moved to Andrews, Texas. A few years later, Lucille opened the Beauty Parlour.
She retired at age 57 in 1984, and she and Bob moved to Breckenridge, Texas, to be near her daughter’s family. She then began many years of volunteer service, doing hair at both nursing homes, taking widow ladies to the doctor in Abilene, serving as a Pink Lady at Stephens Memorial Hospital, assembling Bible literature for Mission printing, delivering Meals on Wheels, and working the Food Pantry.
The most important decision of her life was made in 1947 when she was baptized into Christ. She was a faithful member of the Elliot Street Church of Christ.
She went by many names: Lucille, Mother, Nannie, Aunt Lucille, Lucy, and Lucy Ducy. The people who called her these names were very special to her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clark Royal, and Lillie, and her stepfather, Forest Waldrep; her husband, Bob; her sisters, Gladys Rice, Matilda Rice, and Altus Ridings; and her brother, Barney Royal.
She is survived by her children, Bill (Brenda) Simmons of Trinity, Texas, and Melinda (Randy) Thurmon of Breckenridge; sisters-in-law, Wanda Shumake and Alice Simmons; six grandchildren, Robert, Jeremy (Ashley), Randi (Brandon), Kelli, Brad, and Holly; along with her great-grandchildren, Carson, Lilli, Caleb, Jenna, Claire and Drew; and several nieces and nephews.
With a beautiful servant’s heart, she was always thinking and doing for others, impacting many lives. She lived a quality life in which the Lord was her focus.
Her family is deeply appreciative of the care that was provided by Solaris Hospice: Angela, Chelsi, Lisa, Jenna, and her two neighbors, the Rorks and Pedersons, for mowing her lawn for several years. The family would also like to say thank you to their Elliott Street Church of Christ family and the Walnut Hill Church of Christ of Dallas for their prayers and genuine concern.
Memorials can be made in Lucille’s honor to Stephens Memorial Auxiliary – Pink Ladies, Meals on Wheels or Elliott Street Church of Christ Mission Printing and memorials may be left at the Melton Kitchens Funeral Home office. Condolences may be made at meltonkitchens.com.
