Gene Simmons Sr. went to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 22, 2012, after a hard fought battle with cancer.

     He was born on May 25, 1931, in Osyka, the fourth child of Thomas Gordon Simmons and Mamie Grace Simmons, both of whom preceded him. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 60 years, the former Evelyn Oubre of Magnolia.

     Gene and Evelyn are the parents of four children: Gene Simmons, Jr. and wife, Cris, Tim Simmons and Irene, Angie Williamson and husband, Larry, all of Brookhaven, and Cindy Forrester and husband, Beau, of Hazlehurst. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren: Chad Simmons and Blake Simmons of Brookhaven, Emily and Marci Simmons of Gulf Shores, Ala., Michaelanne Barton of The Woodlands, Texas, John Rhodes Farnham of Birmingham, Ala. and Blaine Hamilton of Stevenville, Texas, as well as five great-grandchildren, a sister, Evelyn Miller of Knoxville, Tenn., a host of friends and relatives and a special friend: his Calico Cat, Mary Jane.

     Preceding him were his brothers: Edgar Jack Simmons of New Orleans, Thomas Gordon Simmons Jr., of Baton Rouge, Billy Simmons of McComb and a sister, Mary Ruth Vaden of Elko, Nev.

     Gene served in the U.S. Army and was retired from the MS National Guard as a Brigadier General. He was an avid community leader and businessman in his younger years and helped move Brookhaven from a small rural town to a growing prosperous city. He was an active member of Brookway Baptist Church.

     Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 2 p.m. at Riverwood Chapel. Visitation is from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the funeral home.

     To express your thoughts to the family, you may visit riverwoodfamily.com and click on his name to leave a comment.