Margaret Hellen Simmons

Margaret Hellen Simmons, 88, of Humble, Texas, died August 3, 2014 in Humble. Services will be at 10:00 AM Monday, August 11, 2014, at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel in Pampa, with Pastor Kyle Ohsfeldt of Grace Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in the White Deer Cemetery in White Deer, under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Margaret Hellen Bates was born on February 28, 1926, on the banks of the Red River in Grayson County to Lela Mae (Collier) and Melvin Thomas Bates. She attended elementary schools in Hollis, Oklahoma and Childress, Texas. She graduated from Childress High School with honors in 1943 and attended Hardin College (Midwestern) in Wichita Falls, Texas. Margaret married Roy Carl Simmons on December 29, 1943. She was a Deputy Assistant / Tax Assessor Collector in White Deer, Texas for 10 years from 1962-1972, and then served as the City Secretary of White Deer for 7 years from 1972-1979. She moved to El Paso, Texas in 1979 where she worked for Socorro Independent School District for the next 24 years. Margaret worked three years as a paraprofessional in the classroom and became the Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent of Personnel for 22 years from 1981-2003. This gave her 41 years of public service when she retired at age 77 and moved to the Houston area in Humble, Texas in 2004 to be closer to her children and family. Margaret was a member of the First Christian Church of Childress, Texas. She enjoyed reading books, writing, traveling, and keeping up with family and friends. She was a member of the Venada Blanco Club in White Deer, Texas, and the Good Timers Club in Humble, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents Lela Mae and Melvin Bates; three brothers, James (Rosy) Bates on May 27, 1992, Thomas Victor (Vic) Bates on February 29, 1996, and Weldon Monroe (Doc) Bates on July 9, 2000, and her husband, the love of her life, Roy Carl Simmons on July 10, 1997. Margaret is survived by one son, Roger Simmons and wife Becky of Bryan, Texas; one daughter, Melanie LaBree and husband Larry of Humble, Texas; two foster sisters; Savolia Schmutzler of Westcliffe, Colorado, and Janie Felton of Childress, Texas; seven grandchildren: Amy Simmons, Warren Simmons, Jessica Holland and husband Lewis, Lance LaBree, Mike Simmons, Kari Simmons, and David Simmons and wife Amber; and six great grandchildren, Austin, Max, McKenna, Jayce, Harley, and Layne. The family request memorials to the White Deer Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 273, White Deer, Texas 79097, or the United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 835, White Deer, Texas 79097.