On June 27, 1928, a baby boy was born in the city of Muskogee, Oklahoma from the union of S. S. "Son" Simmons and Addie Lee [Evans] Simmons.  They named him Loray Houston Simmons and he was the second of four children in the family.

Loray accepted Jesus the Christ at an early age, when he joined Peters Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church.  Later in life, he became a member of the Board of Trustees for the Church.

As a youngster, he started school at Pecan Creek Elementary School near Taft, Oklahoma and later attended historic Manual Training High School in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

At the age of nineteen, he left Muskogee and went to the great state of California to work on the railroad.  In 1951, he joined the United States Army, where he served during the Korean War.  For his honorable service during his tenure of duty, he was awarded two Bronze Medals.

In 1952, he married the love of his life, Willie Mae Maynard of Muskogee, Oklahoma.  This marriage lasted 55 years until her death in 2007.  From this union, three children were born;  Addie, Edward and Norma Simmons.

Also in 1952, he attended Oklahoma State Technical school in Okmulgee, where he took up the trade of auto mechanics.  For 36 years, he worked as a laborer at Oklahoma Children's Center, formerly old D.B.& O., which stood for Deaf, Blind and Orphanage until he retired in 1987.

Mr. Loray H. Simmons, in his 90th year, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 from Muskogee, Oklahoma.  He was preceded in death by his parents, S.S. and Addie Simmons, a sister, Gene, his wife, Willie Mae and his only son, Edward.

He leaves behind to lament his passing and continue his legacy;  two daughters, Addie Gamble, and Norma Fort;  two sons-in-law, Johnny Gamble, Sr., and Victor Fort, all of Muskogee, Oklahoma;  six grandchildren, and their spouses, Tina [Quinton] Felton, Johnny Gamble, Jr., Natalie and Victoria Fort, all of Muskogee, Gina Gaulden, Raynette Gamble, both of Tahlequah, Oklahoma;  two great-grandchildren, Matthieu McBride and his spouse, Alisha Isham and Edward R. Jones, all of Muskogee, Oklahoma;  one great-great-grandson, Damian Ray McBride; a niece, Alfreda Barnes; and a host of relatives and friends, including his close, special friends, Herman Kirby, Lorene Sanders, Sylvester Ousley and Juanita Davis.

The sacred farewell for Mr. Simmons will be shared on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. in the Peters Chapel AME Church, 7902 West Fern Mountain Road.  Burial will follow in the Booker T. Washington.

You may visit Mr. Simmons on Friday from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM in the Atrium of the Rayfield Baptist Church, 601 Indianapolis.