- Date Of Birth: April 25, 1964
- Date Of Death: June 25, 2011
- State: Indiana
John Thomas “J.T.” Simmonds, 47, died on June 25, 2011 in the care of a staff of angels at St. Andrews Health Campus in Batesville, Indiana, after a short but brave battle with cancer. His mother and other family members were with him at the time of his death.
John was born on April 25, 1964 in Greensburg, the son of Robert and Rita (McIntyre) Simmonds. He attended Sandusky Elementary, North Decatur High School, and Ivy Tech Community College. He spent his youth earning money mowing grass in his hometown of Adams, Indiana and was also employed for several years at Sharon Brown, Inc. John spent a number of years as a resident of the Lee Alan Bryan Healthcare Center near Rockville, Indiana and will be missed by the staff and the many friends he had there.
John brought joy to those who cared for him and brought smiles to those around him with an infectious smile, a great sense of humor, and a personality that earned him the family nickname of “Teaser.” He enjoyed fishing, including a very successful recent outing with his two older brothers and their wives. He also enjoyed listening to music and playing his guitars. He was an avid fan of the Pacers, in good times and bad, and enjoyed watching NASCAR racing with his father. One of his great thrills was meeting and sharing a meal with the Intimidator, Dale Earnhardt. John’s pride and joy was his son, Roger Simmonds, who survives.
He is also survived by his mother, Rita Simmonds and his siblings and their spouses: Steve and Diane Simmonds, Nita and Mike McCoy, Robert “Butch” and Rhonda Simmonds, Susan and Tom Ricke, Cathy and Kevin Schroeder and Scott and Brenda Simmonds, 19 nieces and nephews, and 9 great nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert (Bob) Simmonds on September 7, 2010, his paternal grandparents Robert Simmonds and Bessie Simmonds Wickens, his maternal grandparents Oral and Lelia (Goins) McIntyre and one nephew, Justin Paul Schroeder.
