Steven L Simmons' Obituary
Steven Simmons Obituary
A memorial ceremony honoring and remembering Steven L Simmons will be held at 11 AM Saturday, January 7, 2023 in the Rivercrest Chapel, 13329 S. Memorial Drive. Chaplain Cathy Haguewood of Saint Francis Hospice will be officiating. Steve passed away Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa. He was 72.
Born October 27, 1950 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Steve was the son of Charles Lee Simmons and Rose Ann Nurnberger Simmons. The second eldest of 5 children, Steve grew up in Tulsa where he graduated from Central High School in 1968. He developed a love of baseball at an early age and attended the University of Tulsa on a full ride baseball scholarship where he established an incredible reputation as a southpaw pitcher for the Golden Hurricane.
Shortly after graduating high school, Steve met Nell Ann Sadler while working together at Sears Department Store. After dating for 3 years, they married on August 14, 1971, at the Skelly Drive Baptist Church in Tulsa. Steve was a doting and devoted husband. He loved Nell wholeheartedly and treated her like a queen. They were best friends, always doing everything together. They loved to travel, visit family, and just have fun together.
Steve was also a loving and supportive father to their four children, Chris, Cindy, Melissa, and Michael. He coached their baseball and softball teams, led their Scout troops, and encouraged their career interests. He was at once both their biggest fan and role model, imparting a myriad of handyman skills, computer savvy, strong work ethic, and unfailing sense of humor (as well as his poor organizational habits and affinity for procrastination). His relationship with Cindy was extra special. Among the many things they shared were their annual trips to Stillwater for the Special Olympics summer games in her younger years and their frequent runs to QuickTrip for her favorite pop.
While he had many jobs over his lifetime, Steve’s main passion was in geophysics. He began his career at Citgo Petroleum and went on to found Optimum Services, a geophysical data processing and storage company, and serve as President of the Geophysical Society of Tulsa. Steve was also an entrepreneur at heart. During downturns in the industry, he dabbled in a number of different ventures– selling real estate, insurance, and security systems, and establishing a successful chimney service company (American Chimney Sweep) and an office cleaning business.
Later in life, as his work slowed down, he turned his attention to other interests like reading, gardening, and, most of all, spending time with his grandkids. He loved taking care of them, going to all of their school and sporting events, taking them on special trips, and spoiling them with snacks and treats.
Surviving family members include his loving wife of over 50 years, Nell Simmons; his children, Chris Simmons and his wife, Jodi, Cindy Simmons, Melissa Box and her husband, Corey, and Michael Simmons and his wife, Laura; his beloved grandchildren, Rose, Michael, Cameron, Brandon, and Adam; sister, Barbara McLaughlin; and brothers, Charles Lee Simmons, Jr. and his wife, Penny, and Brian Simmons.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents; and his older sister, Patricia Allen.
In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial contributions to the Special Olympics of Oklahoma, 6835 S. Canton Avenue Tulsa, OK 74136. www.sook.org .
He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, especially his family, but they know he will continue to watch over them and live on in their hearts forever.
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