ODIS LEE SIMMONS

1922-2016

Odis Lee Simmons passed away on Monday afternoon, August 8. in his sleep in Conroe, Texas at the age of 94. He was born on June 23, 1922 in San Augustine, Texas. Odis grew up in Van, Texas and graduated from Van High School. After attending two years college he enlisted in the US Army Air Force and flew missions in the South Pacific during World War II. Odis attended Officer Training School at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, during WW II, where his son Brad would graduate from some 36 years later with Odis in attendance. Following his honorable discharge from the military he and his brothers got into the grocery business in Rosenberg, building the first air conditioned grocery stores in the town. He co-founded and managed oilfield service company TEXROY in Rosenberg. He had also helped pioneer the entry of a “newly formed concept” named Century 21 into the Houston real estate market. He remained active in the real estate business until his retirement in the 1990’s.

Odis was active in his church, becoming a Deacon at Second Baptist Church in the 1980’s and working on many projects there involving the growth of the church. He also had many philanthropic and group activities, including his advancement to a 32 degree Freemason within the Scottish Rite Craft and was also active in the Shriners. Odis served many years as a volunteer at the Shriner and Memorial Southwest Hospitals in Houston. A powerful speaker, Odis spent decades involved with numerous local causes and projects involving helping people. He was an active member and leader of the Masonic Lodge in Rosenberg.

Odis was an active sportsman, well known for supporting his son Brad’s competitive skeet shooting career in the 1970’s and 1980s’. Odis traveled with his son to the 1976 Olympics in Montreal where Brad competed. His son credits Odis for being the driving force in his successful career in shooting, including many national and collegiate championships, US Olympic Team and All American Team honors, and multiple World Championships. In the days prior to his passing, Odis’s main topic of excitement and discussion was watching the current Summer Olympics - being the 40 year anniversary of the competition in Montreal he had attended.

Odis is survived by his son Brad, daughter in law Joanne Simmons, granddaughter Michelle Watts and husband Callum, and great grandsons Jon and Dylan Doucette. In addition, he is survived by a loving extended family of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Odis lays in rest at Garmany Carden Funeral Home in Rosenberg, Texas. Memorial Services will be held at Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive, Houston in the Hankamer Chapel at 11 am on Monday, August 15. Graveside Services will be held at 3 pm on Monday at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Rosenberg at the corner of Hwy 59 and FM 2218.

At the family’s request, an in-memorium donation in lieu of flowers should be made to Second Baptist Church – Ticket to Heaven Mission Fund, a mission program in which Odis had been actively involved in for decades.