Obituary: Roy William Simmons(continued)

Continued from previous column Roy was engaged in numerous other community and business activities, including serving on the boards of directors of Kennecott Copper Corporation, Questar Corporation, Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, O.C. Tanner Company, Beneficial Life Insurance Company, Utah Portland Cement Co., Hotel Utah Company and Ellison Ranching Company. He served as Chairman of the Utah Liquor Control Commission and for years served on the University of Utah Board of Regents, and later as a founding member of the Utah State Board of Regents. He was continuously engaged with innumerable good causes and organizations in Salt Lake City and throughout Utah. He received honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Utah, Weber State University and State University of Southern Utah. He found particular joy in working with his wife, Tibby, on the restoration of historic buildings, and in providing numerous college scholarships to single mothers. Roy's proudest associations were with his church and his family. An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served faithfully in many capacities, including as stake patriarch. His marriage of over 67 years with his wife, Tibby, was a textbook example of tenderness, love and true partnership. The only friction developed when he would try to cook dinner, invariably scorching whatever he cooked. Tibby used to joke that his epitaph should read, "He always cooked on high heat." And indeed, it's how he lived his life - balancing many priorities and bringing his considerable energy and wisdom to everything he did. He took great pride in the academic, business, artistic and civic accomplishments of his children, his grandchildren and great-grand-children. He was an incredible father, grandfather and teacher. He loved making up stories about Oscar and Henry, a couple of friendly giants, singing "Bill Grogan's Goat" off-key on one of our many family road-trips and discussing business opportunities and problems with his children. A highlight came in 1999, when Harvard Business School honored Roy and Tibby by creating a case study of their partnership as an example of what it means to successfully find balance between work and family life, and presenting their findings to his children and grandchildren. Roy is preceded in death by two grandchildren, Alexandra Watkins and Jack Simmons. His closest friend and business partner, I. J. ("Izzy") Wagner, died a year ago. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Ellison ("Tibby") Simmons, and by his six children: Matt (Ellen), Julie Watkins (Mack), L.E. (Ginny), Liza Hoke (Bland), Harris (Amanda) and David (Melinda). He is also survived by 26 grandchildren and 15 great-grand-children. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at the Kaysville 12th Ward Chapel, 1039 E. Crestwood Road, Kaysville, Utah. Friends may call at Lindquist Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Road, Layton, Utah, on Friday evening, May 12, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. or at the church from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the services. Interment at the Kaysville Cemetery. The family wishes to express its deep appreciation and love to the wonderful staff from Caregivers Support Network who have attended to our parents. Memorial funds have been established at the Moran Eye Center and at Pioneer Theatre Company - both at the University of Utah.