CWO4 NORMAN RAY SIMMONS,

USN RETIRED, passed from this life on May 16, 2024, in Little Rock, Ark. He was born at home in Grannis, Ark., on February 20, 1935, to Clifford Carl Simmons and Edna Claudine Fowler Simmons.

He is preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Althea Musgrove Simmons; and two sisters, Marie Wax and Billie Jo Simmons.

He is survived by his daughter, Christine Simmons-Spute of Chesapeake, Va., and her husband, Jesse; three grandchildren, Jessica Pedersen, Ashley Williams, and Justin Spute; and four great-grandchildren, Willow Pedersen, Rowan Pedersen, Arden Spute, and Olivia Williams; and three surviving siblings, Winston, Joyce, and Pete Simmons.

In addition, Norman preceded in death by his second wife, Mona Joy Sexton Simmons. He is survived by her children, Bob Sexton, Richard Sexton, and Mignon Hatton. He leaves a host of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews.

He honorably served in the United States Navy for 26 years and served in many duty stations around the world. He narrowly escaped death during the Vietnam War when an enemy shell exploded in his state room on the USS St Paul only seconds after he left the room.

After retiring from the United States Navy, he served as a Government Contractor for many years before he retired a second time. He was a 32nd degree Mason in the Scottish Rite and very active in the Masonic Lodge. He was very proud of his roots in rural Arkansas and could recount many tales of his life and happy times he had growing up in Grannis.” There never will be such a special time as this,” he recently told me.

Fair Winds and Following Seas, Pop. You will be missed more than you know.

There will be a celebration of life on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at 4 p.m. at Bible Believers Baptist Church in Mena at 501 Deridder Ave., 71953.

To sign the online guestbook, please visit, www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal