Mary Frances Day Simmons, 83, of Port Neches, passed away Thursday, February 24, 2011 at her home in Port Neches, Texas.  She was born in Roganville, Texas to Maleacha Hawthorne and Samuel Sims Day, and a resident of the area since 1949.  Mary was a retired cafeteria worker for the Port Neches-Groves Independent School District. 

She is the beloved wife of Millard “Red” Simmons of Port Neches and precious mother and grandmother to daughter, Judy DeRouen and her husband Larry of Nederland; son, William Dale Simmons and his wife Denise of Bridge City; grandchildren, Amber Banken and her husband Jared, Jeremy Simmons and his wife Stacie and Chase Simmons, all of Bridge City; Isabella Banken and Brady Simmons, both of Bridge City; sister, Agatha Mullins of Bryan; brother, Cecil Day of Toledo, Ohio; and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom love and miss her.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Sam and Leachi Hawthorne Day; sisters, Cloie Woods, Eunice Andrus and baby Doris Juanita Day; brothers, Sam Day, Jr. and Spike Day; and grandson, Troy Wayne DeRouen.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Friday, February 25, 2011, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Broussard’s, 505 12th Street, Nederland.  Funeral services will be Saturday afternoon, February 26, 2011 at First Baptist Church, 1900 Magnolia Avenue, Port Neches.   A visitation will be held before the service at 1:00 p.m. and the service will begin at 2:00 p.m., with burial to follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park.

For those wishing to make memorial contributions, please do so by attributing to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 5144,  Beaumont, Texas 77726.

Special thanks are given to Odyssey Hospice in Beaumont and Houston for their loving care and concern.