Velma Simmons |1914-2022|

Velma Simmons, 107, passed away January 4, 2022 at Parkwood Village, Pratt. She was born on the farmstead near Cunningham, April 6, 1914 to William and Bertha (Kennedy) Rose. Velma married Vernon L. Thomas May 20, 1934 in Sawyer, he passed in 1982. She married Clyde Simmons on January 18, 1985 in Pratt. He passed in 1996.

Velma attended Hard Scrabble Grade School through the 8th grade. She worked as a retail clerk at Sweet Briar, Mode O' Day and Jet's Department Store in Pratt. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Pratt, KS. A former member of the Glendale Methodist Church, Kum Double Sunday School Class, life member of the Pratt County Historical Society and EHU. She enjoyed square dancing, playing cards and Spending winters in Texas and Arizona with Vernon. She helped on the farm milking cows, cleaning chickens and cooking meals for harvest crews when custom cutting in the summer. She was a very good cook, specializing in fried chicken and cherry pies. She enjoyed her numerous grandchildren with fishing, driving in the pasture at a high rate of speed (they thought), and teaching them to take lunch to the field during harvest.

She is survived by son, Marvin (Dianne) Thomas of Pratt; daughters, Marilyn Small of Garden City, Nancy Neelly of Pratt; Honorary son, Charles (Pat) Williams, Rexford. 10 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, 16 great great grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren and 6 step great great grandchildren. 1 step-great great great grandchild.

Velma is preceded in death by her parents, husband Vernon L. Thomas and Clyde Simmons; brothers, George Rose, Floren Rose, Ivan Rose, Roy Rose; sisters, Iva Dyche, Ann Conklin, Clara Fischer, Irene Rose.

Visitation will be Thursday, January 13, 2022 from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm with family receiving friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.at Larrison Mortuary 300 Country Pratt 67124. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 Friday, January 14, 2022 at Larrison Mortuary with John Hamm presiding. Inurnment will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, Pratt.