Celestine Simmonds

Clestine A. Chene Simmonds, 82, of Kingman, IN, formerly of Georgetown/Olivet area, died at Vermilion Manor Nursing Home on Friday January 27, 2006 at 5:15. She was born on August 18, 1923 in Brazil, IN the youngest child of Celina Mollet DeLattre and Henry DeLattre. Chene graduated from Georgetown High School and Utterback-Brown Business College. Before marriage and becoming a full-time mother and homemaker, she served as a typist/stenographer in law offices and child welfare agencies in Danville and Springfield, IL. Chene married Charles Wayne Simmonds on March 1, 1947 in Danville. He preceded her in death on March 24, 1999. Surviving are eight children: Marcia (Ron) Thomas of Danville, Charles R. (Marla) Simmonds of Westville, Betty (Terry) Manning of Olivet, Richard (Diana) Simmonds of Georgetown, Vicky (Carl) Johnson of Georgetown, Tom (Lynn) Simmonds of Covington, IN, Debbie (Dan) Cheesman of Georgetown, and Jeff Simmonds of Fort Lauderdale, FL; sixteen grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren. Chene is also survived by her eldest sibling, Lauretta Deknuydt of Westville. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, two brothers, one sister, and her step-father, Frank Bailleul, who raised her from early childhood. Chene was well-known and admired for her large family dinners, lovingly prepared; her flower gardening; putting up of the fresh produce grown in husband Waynes gardens; and caring for her many pets, the latest being her dog Moe. Her pastimes were table games, crossword puzzles, and reading.