Mary Josephine ‘Jo’ Simmons was born June 30, 1934 in rural Webster County, less than a mile from her present home. The daughter of Lewis P. and Opal Mae (Fleetwood) Davidson, Jo spent most of her life near Seymour. Jo went to be with Jesus and Bobby on Dec. 14, 2020, from her residence near Seymour. In 1952, Jo met the love of her life, Bobby Rae Simmons, and they were married Oct. 4, 1952. Bobby and Jo were blessed with four children who they loved dearly in Donna, Debbie, Tresa and Chris. They raised their children to love the Lord and to love one another. As a child, Jo was separated from her siblings. She searched diligently until she was reunited with all six of them and loved them all dearly. They include Lewis Rader, Chris Moser, Frank Blair, Eddie Jones, Connie Sorter and Sue Anderson.
Bobby preceded Jo to Heaven in January 2012. She was also preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law, Chris and Don Moser; brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Betty Blair; brother, Eddie Jones; brother-in-law, Andy Anderson; brothers- and sisters-in law, Nelrita, Bill, Sam, Skeeter and Larry; and son-in-law, Johnnie Lee Carpenter. She is survived by her children, Donna Carpenter, of Fordland; Debbie Kastning (Bob), of Seymour; Tresa Coday (Dennis), of Diggins; and Chris Simmons (Cara), of Hartville; her grandchildren, Jonathan Carpenter; Bobby, Josh, Justin, and Ellie Kastning; Nathan Coday, Ellisha Hastings, Hunter, Hagan and Holton Simmons; great-grandchildren, Allyson Hyde, Nicki Colston, Shelby and Anna Kastning, Hannah Coday, and Harrison and Hendrix Hastings; two great-great-grandchildren, Maddison and Mackenzie Colston; and brothers- and sisters-in-law, Butch Smyth, Norma Simmons and Stella Simmons. She is also survived by her dear neighbors, Mike, Jane, and Ryan Dinwiddie, whom she considered family. Jo was a devoted pastor’s wife and helped Bobby as he pastored several rural Free Will Baptist churches in the area. Jo was also a loving mother, grandmother, great- and great-great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
