Helen Simmons

Helen Marie Simmons, 92, died on Monday, March 4, 2013, at home with her beloved Bichon, Mojo, at her side.

Helen was born August 22, 1920, in Beaver City, Nebraska, the only child of Claud Joseph Young and Ethel Margaret (Chambers) Young. Growing up during the depression in rural southwest Nebraska, Helen graduated Danbury High School in 1938 and later attended secretarial school at the Lincoln School of Commerce in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Helen married the "love of her life", Robert Owen Simmons, a handsome Navy veteran, on October 5, 1947. They lived in Lincoln and later moved to Prairie Village, Kansas, where they shared their home for many years with her father, Claud, until his death in 1965. They enjoyed 32 years together until Bob's death in 1979 while vacationing in Florida.

Helen enjoyed a long and successful career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1941 to 1985, receiving multiple awards and recognition for her 44 years of distinguished service with the Department.

An accomplished, largely self-taught, pianist and organist, Helen always believed her true calling and gift was music. She was a member of, and served as organist and piano accompanist for many years at Overland Park Christian Church, Merriam Christian Church, and Circle of Faith Christian Church. And later, remarkably, until the age of 90, she continued to volunteer her keyboard skills at Lakeview Village Chapel. Helen also founded and performed for many years with the vocal group The Simmonettes and later performed for several years with another vocal group, The New Day.

Helen will be remembered for her wonderful sense of humor, her kind and giving spirit, her strength and resolve, and her ability to inspire others with her music! Preceded in death by her loving husband in 1979,

Helen is survived by her nephew Jim Simmons (wife Sandy) of Summerfield, Florida, niece Barbara Anderson, of Georgetown, Texas, her large "adopted" family and many, many friends! Helen, we thank you for all the wonderful memories, the wonderful music we had the privilege of sharing with you, and showing us how to live life well with faith, courage and grace.

Visitation will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, March 8, 2013, at Amos Family Funeral Home and Memorial services will follow at 2:00 p.m. Burial to follow in Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests remembering Helen's favorite charity with a memorial donation to The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City at 5445 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas.