Billy Joe Simmons

Billy Joe Simmons, 78, of Gallipolis, passed away on Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at the Holzer Medical Center. He was born December 27, 1932 in Carter County, Kentucky, son of the late John Daniel and Eunice Utley Simmons. Billy Joe married Nita Hill on July 12, 1987 and she survives him. He was a retired semi truck driver. He was a Korean War Army veteran and a lifetime member of American Legion Post #27 and VFW #4464. Surviving are his wife, Nita Simmons of Gallipolis; two daughters, Anita Simmons and Judy Justice, both of Bucyrus, Ohio; a son, Billy Wayne (Deb) Simmons of Upper Sandusky, Ohio; three stepchildren, Susan Edwards of Vinton, Ohio, Steve (Melody) Hill of Gallipolis, Ohio and Brian Gibbs of Vinton, Ohio; 17 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; two brothers, Howard Simmons of Tacoma, Washington and Harold Simmons of Tuscon, Arizona; and one sister, Jessie (Fran) Mullen of Crown City, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sons, Edward and Daniel in infancy, a stepson, Joey Gibbs, and two grandsons Mark Justice and Thomas Dye. Services will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, August 5, 2011 at the Willis Funeral Home with Denver Hill officiating. Friends may call from 12-1:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be at 4:00 p.m. at Grayson Memorial Park in Grayson, Kentucky. Cemetery: Grayson Memorial Park, Grayson, Kentucky, Friday, August 5, 2011 4:00 p.m. Visitation: Willis Funeral Home, Friday, August 5, 2011 12-1 p.m. Service: Willis Funeral Home, Friday, August 5, 2011 1:00 p.m.