Obituary of Harry Simmons

Our sweet and caring Father passed on February 21, 2014 at Rex Hospital. The family would like to thank the nurses and doctors on 6 East, 7 West and 5 East for their tender care and support for Dad, with special thanks to Dr. Crane and his staff for their undivided attention to our Father.

Dad moved to Raleigh in the late forties. He worked with Carl Lowe and helped build Jones Auditorium at Meredith College and from that work he obtained a full time job at Meredith. Meredith was his life; Meredith was his home. He had a major impact on the birth of the lake at Meredith and enjoyed visiting the lake, occasionally fishing from the lake and he especially enjoyed the Easter Sunrise Services each year. If you asked Dad how many trees were destroyed at Meredith College during Hurricane Hazel in October 1954 he could tell you the exact number; his relationship with Meredith was indeed special. Dad could grow anything in the ground, prepare vegetables for canning, loved to eat fried fish with homemade hushpuppies, southern ice tea with a slice of lemon chess pie.

Dad is survived by one son (Benny of Wilmington), one daughter (Jean of Durham), 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, two sisters and one brother. He is predeceased by his wife (Donna 2003) and his daughter (Carolyn 2009), one sister and 2 brothers.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 am - 12:00 noon, Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at Montlawn Funeral Home followed by a funeral service in the funeral home chapel beginning at 12:00 noon. Entombment will be at Montlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Flowers are accepted as Dad loved planting his pansies and watching his buttercups rise from the Earth. Memorials can also be made to the Alzheimer's Association of North Carolina or to the Wake County SPCA, both organizations would benefit in so many ways from your contributions.

In closing Dad was a generous man with love to his family; he guided us in ways we will never understand, he was kind, soft spoken and a gentle gentleman. Lastly the family would like to especially thank Mary Liles of Raleigh for her unconditional love and constant companionship with our Dad, he treasured your friendship.

There is no death; only a change of worlds.