Simmons, Melvin Theodore

Born in the family home in Clinton, WA on October 30, 
1922 to Theodore and Astrid Simmons, he arrived early 
in the morning at 4:30. I think he was anxious to get 
started. Mel was one of the last "old timers" from 
Clinton. He went to school at the Deer Lake School 
until it burned down in 1933. The kids then had to 
attend school at the Clinton Progressive Hall until a 
new school was built in Clinton, on Central Avenue, 
which still stands today. Mel enjoyed it so much that 
he took the 8th grade twice. His recollection when 
asked about that was that he was just waiting for his 
brother, Henry, who was one grade behind so that they 
could play football and basketball together in high 
school. That story seems to hold somewhat true as the 
local newspaper often referred to them as the "gold 
dust twins" due to their athletic prowess. They 
graduated from Langley High school in 1941.

Sometime after graduation from high school the "twins" 
moved to Seattle, WA where they lived on Broadway 
and worked in a candy shop run by their Uncle Paul's 
wife, Helen. Mel then got a job with the Lynch 
furniture store in downtown Seattle where he worked 
until drafted into the army.

He reported for duty on February 12, 1943 at the 
Coupeville Fire Hall and from there was sent to Fort 
Lewis. Next stop, Kearns Field Utah where they were 
housed in tents, even though there was snow on the 
ground. From Utah he was sent to an Army Air base at 
Lake Ponchatraine, Louisiana, then to Little Falls, 
Minnesota, and then on to New York City for several 
weeks.

Mel's unit, the 8th Army Air Force, sailed from New 
York in October 1943 in a converted 600-passenger 
cruise ship with about 1600 other soldiers, destination 
Leister, England. Luck was with him as he had a top 
bunk. Mel served as an M.P. and was in England until 
the end of the war when he was sent to Munich, 
Germany. He sometimes would escort prisoners, and 
other times he was free to tour the countryside on his 
Harley Davidson. Pretty good duty he would say.

After the war, Mel returned to Seattle where he met Eva 
Mae Obert. They were married in Seattle in January of 
1947 and honeymooned for two days in Canada.

Mel returned to Whidbey Island in 1947 where, with the 
help of his brothers, Henry and Gordon, dad, Teddy, 
Gus Skarberg and probably a few of the other local 
carpenters, built a new business to be known as 
Simmons Garage. Their Uncle George talked them into 
selling refrigerators called Kelvinators at first, but in 
1949 they began selling Ford automobiles, which they 
continued to sell until 1972. Mel sold his half of the 
business to brother, Gordon, in 1977 to go into the 
construction business. Simmons Garage is still in 
business today and run by younger brother, Gordon. 
Mel was semi-retired from the construction business in 
2008 at the young age of 86. He was still on the 
backhoe last month doing some trenching and loving 
every minute of it. We always said he got his play wire 
and work wire crossed up. He loved his work whether 
on his bulldozer or driving one of his dump trucks. He 
passed away on Friday, March 19.

Mel's wife of 60 years, Eva, died in 2007.

He is survived by sons, Phil (Elke), and Rick (Claudia), 
of Clinton, and son, Paul (Nancy), of Langley, WA; 
grandchildren, Christopher (Lisa), Jeff (Marilyn), Jennifer 
(Shane), Kevin, Melissa, Saara, and Skye (Jacob); great 
grandchildren, Brandon, Angelina, Tyler, Katelynn, 
Savannah, Austin, Maliya, and Jackson; brothers, Henry 
(Irene), of Seattle, and Gordon (Shirley), of Clinton; plus 
many numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

Dad, we thank you for all of your help over the years 
and for all the things you have taught us and given us. 
Rest in peace. Lord knows if anyone deserves a 
vacation it's you.

Arrangements are being made through Visser Funeral 
Home, 432 Third St., Langley, WA. Visitation will be 
held between the hours of 1:00 and 6:00 p.m. on 
Thursday, March 25, at Visser. Services will be held at 
2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 26, at St. Peter's Church in 
Clinton, WA. Friends and family may also view the 
online memorial, sign and leave messages at 
www.visserfuneralhome.com.

Published in The Herald (Everett) on March 24, 2010