James Lewis Simmons Jr., known affectionately as Jimmy to all who knew him, embarked on his final late-night drive into the great beyond on December 21, 2024. Born with a twinkle in his eye on a crisp winter day in 1957 at St Joseph’s Hospital in Parkersburg, WV, Jimmy’s life was a tapestry woven with the threads of humor, practicality, and a touch of creative genius.
Jimmy’s early departure from this world occurred peacefully at his home in Parkersburg, WV, the town that was both the beginning and end chapters of his colorful life story. He was preceded in death by his parents, Inez and James Simmons Sr., his brother Joseph Simmons, and his son Randall Simmons. Their reunion, no doubt, is filled with laughter and the strumming of bluegrass tunes.
He leaves behind a loving troupe that includes his wife, Virginia Simmons, whose patience and love could be considered saintly, especially during those late-night drives that Jimmy was so fond of. His daughter Michele Simmons, who inherited her dad’s creative spark, along with her husband Roy Beard, and their son Ryland Beard, who will surely carry on the legacy of his grandpa’s handy skills. His son, James “JR” Edgell, who learned from the best how to tell a story that could light up any room. Jimmy’s sister, Alice Hardbarger, and brother, Chris Keel, are also left to cherish his memory, undoubtedly reminiscing about the good old days when Jimmy was the life and soul of family gatherings…