Evelyn Simmons, generous, spiritual person
Evelyn (Evie) Simmons, 74, of Rehoboth Beach, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, at Beebe Healthcare in Lewes. She was born Jan. 28, 1948, in Philadelphia, Pa., daughter of the late Merle Fran Simmons and Jesse (Simon) Simmons.
Evie graduated from Williamstown High School in Williamstown, N.J., and got her degree in 1970 at Glassboro State College (now Rowan University). Evie spent 30 years teaching, first at Delsea Regional High School as a physical education teacher and later as a substance awareness coordinator for the entire school district. She also coached seventh and eighth grade field hockey and junior varsity softball.
In 1982, Evie met her life partner Barbara Thompson. They bought a vacation home in Rehoboth Beach in 1993 and split their time between Marlton, N.J., and Rehoboth Beach.
In an April 1999 during a rainstorm, Evie stopped to assist a young driver who had run off the road. As she stood outside the car, Evie was hit by a second skidding car, resulting in serious injuries and the amputation of her left leg. Not only did Evie return to her school job following the accident, but she took up golf more seriously than before and continued to captain her beloved boat. In fact, as a 10-year member of Coast Guard Auxiliary, Evie was the first Delaware amputee to be permitted to keep a captain’s license.
By 2003 Evie and Barb were retired and living in Rehoboth Beach full time. They traveled to Canada that year to be married legally.
Over almost 20 years of retirement, Evie remained passionate about the Philadelphia Eagles, captaining her Grady White power boat, managing softball teams, and coordinating golf leagues and tournaments. For a dozen years, Evie and Barb ran CAMP Rehoboth Golf League and continued to coordinate the Women’s FEST golf outing annually. In addition, Evie enjoyed Wednesday night poker games, and her role as manager of the Shore Sharks Senior Women’s Softball team.
She enjoyed capturing nature in photography, wanted to be first to own every electronic gadget ever invented and loved her riding lawn mower. Evie especially enjoyed dropping crab pots in Rehoboth Bay, catching, and cooking hard-shelled crabs, then inviting friends to crab feasts.
A spiritual and generous person, Evie was a longtime member of Metropolitan Community Church of Rehoboth. She donated the funds for the purchase of the land along Plantation Road where the congregation constructed its home.
Above all, Evie was a devoted spouse, a woman who adored her family and friends, and an animal lover who was partial to Yorkshire terriers. Her last rescue was a three-legged yorkie-cairn mix named Toddy.
Evie is survived by her wife of 40 years, Barb Thompson of Rehoboth Beach; her sister and brother-in-law Beverly and Dan Cunliffe of Blackwood, N.J.; her nieces, Alyson Cunliffe and Devin Graham, and Devin’s son, Jaxon, whom Evie positively adored. She leaves behind a community of grieving friends, too many to mention.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, at Epworth United Methodist Church, 19285 Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach, where friends and family may visit beginning at 10 a.m.
Final care for Evie has been entrusted to Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Evie’s memory to Metropolitan Community Church, 19369 Plantation Rd., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 and CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Ave, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Also, a softball scholarship will be created in Evie’s name along with the Shoresharks Softball Team, to make an annual award to a female softball player at Cape Henlopen High School.
Visit Evie’s Life Memorial webpage and sign her virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
