Bettie Marie Simmons, 89, spent her final days surrounded by loving family and passed away peacefully on Nov. 15 at Cove’s Edge nursing home in Damariscotta after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
She was born in Friendship on June 16, 1929, the daughter of Basil and Lida (Poland) Burns.
Educated in Friendship schools, Bettie wed Leland Simmons on April 26, 1946. Lifelong residents of Friendship, they once lived at the end of Forest Lake Road and operated a lobster pound before buying acreage on Rt. 220 and ultimately creating Simmons Lane. They were married for 45 years until his death in 1991.
Bettie was employed at Sylvania in Waldoboro for 37 years, happily retiring in 1993.
Among her favorite leisure time hobbies and interests were reading, music – especially Elvis Presley and country western – sewing, rug braiding, shopping, playing cards, and doing jigsaw puzzles. She was also an avid rug hooker who created beautiful rugs for each of her children.
Bettie had a zest for life and in her prime, she rarely sat still. She enjoyed spending time with her girlfriends, taking trips with them to both New York City and Hawaii. She loved shopping and often went “antiquing” with her daughter and daughter-in-law, looking for pieces to add to her McCoy pottery collection. She was a devoted grandmother, annually taking her grandchildren to the Union Fair and on particularly memorable trips with her grandchildren, daughter, and daughters-in-law to Story Land, Santa’s Village, and Six Gun City in New Hampshire.
After her retirement, Bettie spent many happy years traveling the United States in her RV with her longtime companion, Stillman Taylor, and her beloved cat, “Bogie.” The three of them wintered in Florida and often summered at Beaver Lodge in Hope where no invitation was ever needed to join them for dinner and a campfire.
She was a true matriarch, and that was never more apparent than at Christmas time when she brought the family together for fellowship and fun.
Bettie had a beaming smile, dancing eyes, and a ready chuckle. She was frequently heard singing or humming a melodic tune and often played the accordion and keyboard at family gatherings. She imparted many a loving and supportive word, had a sympathetic ear, and an open hand to hold. She was truly beloved, and she will be deeply missed.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leland; father, Basil Burns; mother, Lida Poland Burns; brother, Malcolm Burns; sister, Mildred Burns Mank; brother-in-law, Richard Mank; niece, Gloria Mank Nash; nephew, Michael Mank; and companion, Stillman Taylor.
Bettie is survived by her children: sons, Richard Simmons and wife Diane of Ormond Beach, Fla. and Maine, and Ronald Simmons and wife Wanda of Friendship; and daughter, Darlene Simmons and wife Susan Conley of Lewiston; grandchildren, Lynn Simmons Wolford and husband Jason of Bardstown, Ky., Matthew Simmons and wife Jennifer of Cushing, Aaron Simmons and wife Amy of Chatham, Mass., Jeromy Simmons and wife Ramona of Friendship, Holly Simmons Erskine and husband Jeff of Waldoboro, and Scott Simmons and wife Samantha of Friendship; great-grandchildren, Jacob Wolford, and Elise Wolford of Bardstown, Ky., Ashley Simmons, and Aidan Simmons of Chatham, Mass., Emma Simmons, Avery Simmons, and Alden Simmons of Friendship, Sam Vose, and Sophie Vose of Cushing, and Wyatt Simmons, and Garrett Simmons of Friendship; step-great-grandson, Ashton McClean and wife Sarah of Warren; step-great-great-granddaughters, Grace McClean and Ella McClean of Warren; nieces and nephews, Deborah Mank Feltis of Friendship, Allen Mank of Cushing, and Donna Mank of Rockland; and special friend, Carl Simmons Junior of Friendship.
Visiting hours will be held at from 1-3 p.m., Sat., Dec. 1 at Hall’s Funeral Home, 949 Main St., Waldoboro. The family will then hold a private memorial celebration of Bettie’s life that evening, to be followed in early May by a graveside service at the Roadside Cemetery in Friendship to which all who loved her are invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Bettie to the Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter at https://www.alz.org/maine.
Condolences for the family can be shared at hallfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral and Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
