Wayne Lee Simmons
December 7, 1947 – June 27, 2024

Wayne Lee Simmons, 76, of Sweet Home, passed away Thursday, June 27, 2024. He was born in Portland to Florence Evelyn (Kerr) and Frank Brunger Simmons.

Wayne served in the Army from September 1968 – October 1969.

Wayne and Beverly have lived in Sweet Home since 2006. Prior to that, he lived in many places in Oregon, Washington, California and Nevada, working in many different jobs such as well digging, fireman on the steam engine for Virginia & Truckee Railroad, gold miner, volunteer firefighter in Gold Hill and Virginia City, Nevada, maintenance and landscaping at the Goldendale Observatory, maintenance at Yaquina Bay Lighthouse and Crater Lake National Park and a range laborer for BLM.

He enjoyed spending time with his family. He liked to read and write. Wayne was a member of Harvest Christian Center. He loved taking road trips to the coast, central Oregon, and Nevada. He was always on the lookout for ghost towns and good places to find agates.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Beverly Simmons; step-son, Adalberto Handy III; step-daughter, Etta Ross all of Sweet Home; six step-grandsons; nephew, Martin McKnight of Milwaukie; niece, Marla Rethwill; great-niece, Amy Rethwill both of Maupin. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Irene McKnight (2023).

Celebration of life will be 6:30 pm Friday July 12th at Harvest Christian Center. Graveside service with military honors will take place at 2 pm Monday, July 15th at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Donations can be made in his name to Harvest Christian Center, PO Box 489, Sweet Home, Oregon 97386. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements. www.sweethomefuneral.com.