Vernon F. Simmons

Vernon F. SimmonsJuly 17, 1932 - May 5, 2013Vernon was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Evelyn and Vernon F. Simmons, Sr. He grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and graduated from Michigan State University in 1957 with a degree in packaging engineering. His first job was with Sandia Corporation, a prime contractor for the Atomic Energy Commission in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1967 he went to work for the TRW aerospace company in Los Angeles, California, but after two years of breathing smog he transferred to Boeing Aerospace in Seattle. Vernon was first married in 1954 and had five children: three girls, Karen, Verlynn and Janice; and two boys, Mark and Kevin. All of Vernon's children survive him except for Mark who was killed in an ultra-light airplane accident in 1992. Vernon is survived by his loving wife, Maxine, a former schoolteacher whom he met in Seattle and married in 1975 in her hometown of St. Charles, Minnesota. They lived in Federal Way, Washington until 1995, when they moved to Sequim. Besides his daughters, Karen Murphy, Verlynn Johns and Janice Clifton; and son Kevin he leaves behind his two sisters, Jeanne McWhirter of California and Charlotte Vallad of Michigan. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. A memorial service will take place at 1PM on Saturday June 29 at Berea Moravian Church in rural St. Charles with the Reverend Frank Jones officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may call one hour before services at the church. Memorial contributions in Vernon's honor may be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org. Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service of St. Charles is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share a memory of Vernon at his on-line guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com.