OBITUARY: Joseph Howard Simmons

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Joseph Howard Simmons, 64, of Harrisburg, passed away at 10:11 a.m., Thursday, June 21, 2012, with his family by his side.

Joseph was born on November 29, 1947, in Rosiclare, to Jack D. Simmons and Patricia (Porter) Davenport. He married Priscilla "Pixie" Griffith on November 24, 1973, and she survives.

Joe was a senior sales representative for Zinkan Enterprise of Twinsburg, Ohio. He was a founding member and treasurer of the Midwest Coal Prep Society and was active with the Rosiclare High School Reunion Committee. Joe served in the Army as a medic in Germany during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Harrisburg.

Surviving family members include his wife: Priscilla "Pixie" Simmons of Harrisburg; son: Brandon Joseph Simmons and wife Julia of Mt. Vernon; daughter: Hannah Jane Chapman and husband Luke of Carterville; father: Jack Simmons and wife Jane of Harrisburg; mother: Patricia Davenport of Hilton Head, S.C.; five grandchildren: Atalie, Kenley, Alayna, Laci, and Hayden; sister: Jane Rudy and husband David of Johnson City, Tenn.; nephew: Dugan Trodglen and wife Anna of Atlanta, Ga.; mother-in-law: Ruth McGhee of Rosiclare.

He was preceded in death by his step-father: Richard Davenport.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 26, 2012, at Reed Funeral Chapel in Harrisburg. Pastor Ken Staib will officiate. Burial will follow in Howard Cemetery in Rosiclare.

Military graveside rites will be conducted by the Harrisburg American Legion, Carrier Mills American Legion and National Guard. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., Monday, June 25, 2012, at Reed Funeral Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family through the obituary page of www.reedfuneralchapel.com.