Laura Beatrice ‘Bea’ Simms, family matriarch

Laura Beatrice “Bea” Simms, 95, passed away peacefully, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, at her home in Milton, surrounded by loved ones. Bea was born in Lewes to the late William H. Mitchell and Marion C. Ash Mitchell, and was one of nine children: brothers, George, Pete, Billy and Alfred; sister Ethel, Edna, Gertrude, and Bessie. Alfred Mitchell (Marlyn) and Bessie Walker survived their sister. 

Bea was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Simms Jr., with whom she had three children, Roland Simms (Bundy), Richard Simms III (Debbie) and Gale Livingston (Charlie); five grandchildren, Carol Pearce (Greg), Melody Thomas-Wohlfeil (Paul), Tammy Bryant (Rick), Karin Laroche (Drew), Susan Passwaters (Rhett); and eight great-grandchildren, Robert Keefe, Meghan and Shannon Pearce, Julien and Keaton Chang, Brogan Evick and Ian Laroche, and Ashton Passwaters. 

Bea enjoyed spending time with family; she especially loved the beach, music, singing, dancing, cooking, jigsaw puzzling, gardening, clamming and crabbing, feeding hummingbirds, and socializing at the local VFW, American Legion, and Moose Lodge. She cherished her family more than anything, and with that love, she devoted her life to caring for others. Whether it was for her own family, friends, neighbors, or those without family nearby,  Bea took care of everyone. She will forever be remembered for her gift of storytelling, her knack for making people laugh, and for always being near a jukebox or on a dance floor. Bea lived life to the fullest, and her legacy will live on through her family and friends who loved her dearly. 

Services will be private, and a celebration of Bea’s life will be announced at a later date.