Opal Olivia Simmons, 97, of Lumberton, died Saturday, April 5, 2014.  She was born on January 23, 1917, in Wiergate, to Arcay Hughes Leach and Cade Robert Leach. 

Opal was a 1934 graduate of Burkeville High School.  She had worked at the Burkeville Post Office and Sommers Rexall Drug Store in Beaumont, and was a Past Worthy Matron of Burkeville Order of the Eastern Star.  Opal loved crosswords puzzles, crocheting, African violets, birds, and East Texas history, and she was the oldest living member of Crestwood Baptist Church.

Survivors include her children, Nancy Gore and her husband, C.W., of Lumberton and Richard Lee Simmons, Jr. and his wife, Pat, of Kountze; grandchildren, Richard “Rocky” Gore; Richard “Rickey” Simmons, III and his wife, Dona; and Gregory “Greg” Earl Simmons and his wife, Shanda, all of Lumberton; Susan Simmons Kulhanek and her husband, Kevin, of Kountze; and Molly Cay Lindsey and her husband, Chris, of The Woodlands; great-grandchildren, Chas Lee Simmons and his wife, Catherine and Crystal Dorrell, all of Lumberton; Rafe Simmons of Waco; Erika Whipple and her husband, Bryan, of League City; Harley Simmons, Jacob Simmons, and Kevin E. Kulhanek and his wife, Stormy, all of Lumberton; Kalin Kulhanek and his wife, Gini, of Kountze; Kolby Kulhanek and his wife, Jesse, of Lumberton; and Christopher Lindsey; Olivia Grace Lindsey; Catherine Lindsey; Claudia Lindsey; and Ella Lindsey, all of The Woodlands; great-great-grandchildren, Jack Simmons; Macy Simmons; Kade Kulhanek; and Clay Kulhanek, all of Lumberton; Landon Kulhanek and Gunter Kulhanek, both of Kountze; and Colton Dorrell and Jasmine Kulhanek, both of Lumberton; brother, Cade Leach Burkeville and his wife, Betty; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard Lee Simmons; sister, Dixie Butler; and brother, Jessie Leach.

The family would like to give special thanks to Mrs. Simmons’ caregivers, Mickneisha Alford, Jasmine Alford, and Lenora Alford.

A gathering of Mrs. Simmons’ family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday, April 7, 2014, at Broussard’s, 490 Cemetery Road, Silsbee.  Her funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at Broussard’s, with interment to follow at Ford Chapel Cemetery, Newton.