Larry Joseph Simons began his final great adventure Thursday, June 23, 2022 when he went to join his Lord and Savior.
Rosary & visitation will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Monday, June 27 at Happy’s Memorial Chapel. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at the Happy Cemetery with Father Grant Spinherne, as celebrant. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors.
Larry was born on March 9, 1941 in Raton, NM. He was the second of five boys born to Joe and Eulalia (Begio) Simons. His formative years were spent in the tiny coal town of Morley, CO where he attended his first eight years of schooling in a two-room schoolhouse. He graduated from Trinidad High School in Trinidad, CO with a class of 300 in 1959. He married Skip Murphy in Hoehne, CO in 1961 and they began their lives near Happy, TX where they spent the next sixty years of their lives.
The first and most important thing that can be said of Larry was his love of Jesus Christ. He was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church in Happy, Tx.
Secondly, Larry loved his family more than words can express. Each of his three children were precious to him and he loved his seven grandchildren unconditionally. He was a loyal and faithful friend with a soft and caring heart. He would help anyone with no thought of personal gain.
Those who knew Larry knew how much he enjoyed all types of sports, from ball to rodeo, not just watching and cheering for local kids, but all teams. Until his health declined, he attended ballgames all over the Texas Panhandle just for the love of the game and he was an avid WTAMU fan.
His second love was 4-H and stock shows. Larry spent countless hours helping kiddos working with show calves. He was a leader in Swisher County 4-H for 52 years and was awarded the Texas 4-H Legacy award in 2020 for outstanding service to Texas 4-H.
Larry served on the Happy ISD school board and worked as a carpenter at WTAMU for twenty-seven years.
Larry is survived by his wife Skip (Mary Kathryn Murphy) of Happy; two sons, Clay (Sharon) of Lincolnville, KS and Dwayne (Melissa) of Happy, TX; one daughter, Megan (Dan) Horton of Shallowater, TX; six grandchildren, Carlye Simons of Eugene, OR; Lauren Picon of Denver, CO; Ty Simons of Wichita, KS; Cacey (Luke) Sizemore of Maize KS; and Emma and Ellasyn Horton of Shallowater, TX; two brothers, Harold Simons of Kim , CO; and Jim Simons of Pueblo West, CO; one aunt, Ruth Elaine Begio of Yankee, NM; two sisters-in-law, Marge (Ted) Butler of Leavenworth, WA; and Marion Dalvit of Hoehne, CO; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and a multitude of friends from wherever he went.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Eulalia (Begio) Simons; and his brother and sister-in-law, Everett and Jackie Simons; brother, Dale Simons, Granddaughter Kirsten Dale Simons; Sister-in-laws, Lori (DePeel) Simons and Nancy (Miller) Simons, brothers-in-law, Bernard “Bud” Murphy and Charles “Buddy” Dalvit.
Larry defined himself by his work ethic. He loved to work, and we find comfort in the fact that he passed away doing something he loved: working. 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” is a good description of Larry Joseph Simons. Job Well done. God Speed.
Memorials can be made to the Kirsten Dale Simons scholarship Fund at Happy State Bank or Swisher County 4-H.