Loyd Franklin Simons, 104
Loyd peacefully went on to heaven on Thursday, July 7, 2011, at his home in Coeur d'Alene. He was born April 12, 1907, in Sanders to James and Myrtle Simons.
Loyd married Marguerite Dugger in 1931 in St. Maries and they made their home and raised their family in the St. Maries, Coeur d'Alene area. Loyd and Marguerite enjoyed many years of gardening, hunting, camping, fishing, rock hounding and making jewelry. He had a wonderful memory and a sense of humor; he really enjoyed reciting and creating poems to share with anyone who would listen. Together he and Marguerite enjoyed their hobbies and their family.
Since Marguerite's death Loyd has lived in his own home and has continued to garden and enjoy the simple things in life. At 102 he took his sleeping bag and drove himself up the St. Joe River in his 1972 Chevrolet to camp with family and to sit around the campfire. He said "the rumble strips kept him on the road." While he was camping he sat down in a lawn chair, the chair went over backward and he was on his head, but he had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye.
On Thursday before his death, he took his motorized wheel chair to the park by his home for a morning outing which he had been enjoying lately, then he went home and peacefully passed away during his nap. God is good! Loyd's spunk and sassy ways will be sorely missed.
Loyd worked for many years as a logger, and a mill worker at the Potlatch mill. He and his family were early pioneers and homesteaded in the half-way country near St. Maries. His grandfather was a Methodist Episcopal Circuit Rider near Howard, Kan., and those vales of faith and honesty were passed down through the years and made Loyd the person we all knew and loved.
Loyd is survived by his sons, Dale (and Josie) Simons and Jim (and Ruth) Simons; daughter Elaine (and Bob) O'Neel; daughter-in-law and caregiver Marlene Simons; 17 grandchildren, many great and even some great-great-grandchildren. Loyd also has many other family members in the St. Maries, Coeur d'Alene area.
He was preceded in death by wife Marguerite in 1996; young son Robert Simons and son Willard Simons in 2002; brothers Elmer and Russell; sisters Ruby, Effie, Gertie and many other treasured loved ones.
Loyd was fortunate to have a daughter-in-law and caregiver who was willing to make it possible for him to stay in his own home and to continue life as he was accustomed to. He was also very fortunate to have Hospice caregiver and dear friend, Jeanine, who was very loving and caring to his needs and his wants, and she did this all with great cheer and love. Without this care from both caregivers he would not have been able to enjoy his life to the fullest. He is now enjoying his new body in heaven and his old has passed away. New ears, yeah! 2 Corinthians 5:17
There will be a graveside service at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries, where he will be buried next to his wife, Marguerite, and son Bobby. Yates Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.