July 15, 1939 — December 14, 2024
Funeral services for Claude William Simmons, Jr., age 85, of Enid, will be 2:00 pm Thursday December 19, 2024 at the First United Methodist Church in Enid, with Reverend Devon Krause officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm, Wednesday, December 18th at the funeral home.
Junior, as he was known to his family and friends, passed away Saturday, December 14, 2024 at The Commons. He was born August 15, 1939, in Avard, Oklahoma, to Claude William Simmons and Mary Ethel Vernon (Cropp) Simmons. He was a graduate of Waynoka High School in Waynoka, Oklahoma, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1963, followed by a Master’s in Administration, both from Northwestern Oklahoma State University, at Alva, Oklahoma. As part of his Master’s Degree, he also completed coursework at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas.
On November 21, 1962, Junior married Marjorie Marie Bennett. To this union, three daughters were born -Vicki Marie, Rhonda Kay, and Timarie Ann.
Junior had a very successful 22 years teaching vocal and instrumental music in Kansas and Oklahoma. He spent 16 years working for the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, regulating speech, debate, and vocal and instrumental music for the high schools of Oklahoma. Making music better in the state of Oklahoma was his passion, and he felt honored to have had the opportunity to serve in that capacity.
Junior was state chairman of the American School Band Directors Association in 1980, President of Oklahoma Bandmasters Association in 1975, and served as All-State Band Chairman for one year. He was introduced into the Band Masters Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Oklahoma Music Educators Hall of fame in 2002. He also served as an adjudicator for band contests in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Missouri.
While in Medford, Junior co-authored, with Edna Tims, a book titled “Pulsing the Beat,” encompassing his teaching philosophy and style. This afforded him the opportunity to develop good music programs wherever he taught. He later wrote a series of beginning band method books based on this same philosophy.
Junior spent many of his adult years as a member of the United Methodist Church where he often served as choir director. He also taught Sunday school and served on the church board and many committees. He sang solos and duets with his wife at church and various places.
Junior spent five years as the Managing Director of the Tri-State Music Festival in Enid after he retired. In accepting the job, he said, “Music and the Enid area have been good to me through the years, and this is my chance to give back.” He looked at Tri-State as one of his greatest accomplishments and joys. Never had he worked for a board whose sole interest was music. Junior was honored to receive the (in recognition of his many years of service to tri-state and the enid area)
After leaving Tri-State, Junior and Marjorie retired, again, at Terra Starr Park on Lake Eufaula in their motor home, having sold their home in Yukon three years earlier. He was on the board of directors for four years, serving as vice-president for one year and chairman for three.
Some of Junior’s relaxing times were spent traveling with his wife in their motor home. He loved to fish with his good friends at Lake Eufaula and spend time on his Mac computer.
Junior is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Clarabelle Brock, Nettie Mae Koutz, Maxine Hale, Verna Lee Chambers, and Louise Whitney; and brothers, Albert Simmons, Burl Simmons, Bob Simmons, and Donald Simmons.
Surviving family includes his wife of 62 years, Marjorie Simmons, of the home in Enid; three daughters, Vicki and Jim Hawarden (Enid, OK); Rhonda Rundel (Yukon, OK) and her children, Aleksander and Brae Rundel; Timarie and Shawn Dove (Snoqualmie, WA) and her children, Taryn and Dylan Maynard; and brother Paul Simmons; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Memorial contributions in Junior’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.
Condolences may be made to the family online at www.LadusauEvans.com. Ladusau-Evans has been serving the families of the Enid Community and surrounding areas for over 40 years with compassionate service and dedication. They provide families with an open door policy. Feel free to contact them 24 hours a day. Visitation Hours: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm daily, 2800 N. Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703. Call: (580) 233-1400.
