Thomas G. Simmons, Jr. was born in Maryville, Missouri, on October 1, 1928, and died at the age of 90 years on December 21, 2018, in Rochester, Minnesota.  Tom grew up and spent his early adult years in Fairfax, Missouri, where he graduated from Fairfax High School and attended Tarkio College. On February 12, 1950, he and Barbara Joyce Wright were married. Together they farmed, owned a farm implement dealership, raised their family, and were actively engaged in the northern Missouri communities of Fairfax, Worth County, and Tarkio. From 2002, they made their home in Rochester, Minnesota.

Tom Simmons was a World War II United States Navy veteran, and a member of the American Legion, Masons, and Rotary. He was a founding member and president of the Tarkio Development Corporation and instrumental in building the Tarkio Golf Course. Throughout their married life, Tom and Barbara were members of the United Methodist Church.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas G. and Bessie Lee Simmons, and his wife, Barbara Joyce Simmons. He is survived by his daughter, Dr. Patricia Sue Simmons (Dr. Lester Wold); son, Paul Scott Simmons (Michele Clark); grandson, Paul Simmons Wold (Kaylinn Stormo); granddaughter, Barbara Nielsen Wold (Major Matthew Textor); and great-grandchildren, Charles Wold Textor and Eleanor Wold Textor.

Tom was remembered by his Minnesota community at a memorial service in Rochester in January. A joint graveside service for Tom and his wife, Barbara, who passed away March 27, 2017, will be held at the English Grove Cemetery, west of Fairfax, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2019. The family suggests memorials to the English Grove Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Schooler Funeral Home, Fairfax.