Joe Gordon Simmons, 84, Sparta, passed from this earth, on Oct. 19, 2024, at home, after a short illness. He was surrounded by his loved ones and a host of angels who ushered him into the waiting arms of Jesus.
Joe was born Jan. 17, 1940, in Spencer, to Dovie (Manus) and Gordon Simmons, the third of seven children.
At the age of 16, he gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized in Cane Creek, in Van Buren County. He was a member of the 1958 graduating class of Van Buren County High School and has maintained close relationships with his classmates throughout the years.
After high school, he joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in San Antonio, Texas; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Honolulu, Hawaii. While stationed in Hawaii, he made extra money waiting tables at a fine dining restaurant and teaching square dancing at a local dance studio.
After serving in the Air Force from 1958 to 1962, he returned home to Tennessee and met a beautiful Sparta girl named Allene at a square dance. He was immediately smitten and told her he wanted to “marry her now and court her later.” They married on June 22, 1962, and moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he got a job driving a truck for B&P Motor Express hauling car parts into the Big Three car manufacturing plants and also where their only child, Vicki, was born.
In 1973, he moved his little family back to Tennessee and started his own long-haul trucking company, growing it into a highly successful business. He was a staunch patriot and many of his trailers were painted with an American flag, the Statue of Liberty, and the words “America, We Believe in You.”
Joe had a unique charisma and charm, and he never met a stranger. He raced stock cars on local dirt tracks during the 70’s and was a life-long, avid, scratch golfer with 16 holes-in one and was a member of the Sparta Country Club since 1975.
One of his most exceptional accomplishments was training to be a pilot and achieving his instrument rating. He flew his Beechcraft Duke, twin-engine aircraft to call on many business customers and visit the many golf courses he was able to play across the U.S. He retired in 1993, and he and Allene spent many months of the year at their retirement house in the Spruce Creek Fly-In and Country Club community of Port Orange, Florida, where he served as club president for four years.
His greatest joy was being Papa to his two granddaughters, Emmaline and Annabelle. They were the apples of his eye. He was also excited to meet his coming great-granddaughter, due in December 2024.
In addition to his father and mother, he was preceded in death by his brother, Malcolm Simmons; sisters, Virginia Deweese, Aline Ashley; brothers-in-law, Gerald Roberts, Oscar Nunley, Lonnie Deweese, Herbert Ashley; and sister-in-law, Gail Lowery.
He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Allene (Roberts) Simmons, of Sparta; daughter, Victoria (Jack) Pirrie, of Cookeville; granddaughters, Emmaline (Asa) Settles, of Sparta, Annabelle Pirrie, of Cookeville; siblings, A.R. (Shirley) Simmons, of Spencer, Inez Nunley, of McMinnville, Fred (Lynn) Simmons, of Chattanooga; sister-in-law, Reba Simmons, of Jasper; brothers-in-law, Lloyd Earl (Mary) Roberts, of Sparta, Billy Roberts, of Sparta; aunt, Tennie Yates, of Spencer; and many adoring nieces and nephews and too many dear friends to number.
A special thank you to all of the family, neighbors, friends, First Baptist Church Sparta (church family), and Hospice of Tennessee for their prayers, support, and care.
Funeral service will be 1 p.m., Oct. 26, 2024, at Oak Lawn Funeral Home, with burial in Spencer Town Cemetery, in Van Buren County. Pastor Brad Walker and Pastor Dennise Deweese will officiate.
The family will receive friends 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Oct. 26, at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Jerry Roberts, Greg Wilson, Roy Heady, Charles Dycus, Greg Gaynor, and Stephen Luna.
Oak Lawn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.