Cornelius "Connie" Simms

Cornelius "Connie" Houston Simms, 78, of Oak Hill, WV died on Sunday, September 04, 2005 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Beckley, WV due to complications following heart surgery. Born February 19, 1927 at Ansted, WV he was the son of the late Lawrence Watson and Madge Clendenin Sims. Daddy grew up in Beards Fork, attended Montgomery High School then Beckley and Morris Harvey Colleges. He was a World War II US Army veteran. Mr. Simms was a member of the Jones Avenue First Church of God, Oak Hill, WV. He was a schoolteacher, coal miner, Federal Mine Inspector and an ordained minister. He liked a good prank, liked to garden and liked woodworking. He thought he was still young and could still do the same things he did when he was younger, like climbing trees and painting eaves. He loved his family and tried to entertain them and keep them laughing. His wife, family and friends will dearly miss him. He was one of five brothers, Lawrence Sims of New Jersey and cousin, Howard Sims of New Jersey and the late Robert Sims of Ohio, the late William Sims of Oak Hill and the late John Sims of Virginia. A grandson, Brandon Simms of Oak Hill preceded him in death. Surviving are his wife, Marjorie Oiler Simms; eight sons, Larry Simms and wife, Carol, of Gatewood, WV; Jimmy Simms and wife, Ann, of Hartville, OH; Roger Simms and wife, Carolyn of Whiteland, IN; Tommy Simms of Beckley, WV; Michael Simms and wife, Karen, of Plum Orchard, WV; Connie Mack Simms and wife, Jennie, of Oak Hill, WV; Paul Dean Simms and wife, Bernie, of Dale City, VA; Bruce Simms of Oak Hill, WV; four daughters, Lois O'Daniels of Leland, NC; Trenia Christianson of Seattle, WA; Vickii Maynard and husband, Randy, of China and Madge Hamilton of Columbus, OH; twenty eight grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren with another great-grandchild due in October, many special nieces and nephews and his dog, Chelsea. Visitation will be held at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill on Thursday, September 8, 2005, from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Services will be on Friday, September 9, 2005, at 2:30 P.M. at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill with Rev. Ralph Shupe, Rev. Richard Bradley & Rev. Stanley Taylor officiating. Military graveside rites will be conducted by VFW POst #3110, Oak Hill, WV. Entombment will be at High Lawn Memorial Park Mausoleum, Oak Hill WV. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the American Red Cross, Fayette Country Chapter, PO Box 355, Oak Hill WV 25901 for Hurricane Katrina victim relief.