Linda Diane Hutcherson Simmons, 77, of Marshall MO, died Saturday April 13, 2024, after a short but hard-fought battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, April 20, 2024, at First Baptist Church in Marshall, with Dr. Alan Branch officiating. Burial will follow at Ridge Park Cemetery in Marshall. Visitation will precede services at First Baptist Church beginning at 9:30.a.m. Luncheon for friends and family (all are welcome) at The Martin Community Center.
Linda was born March 11, 1947, in Marshall, Missouri, the daughter of the late Willis Walker “Pete” Hutcherson and Hattie Eileen Shinn Hutcherson. She was baptized into the First Baptist Church in Marshall. On July 7, 1978, Linda married John Hamilton Simmons III in Marshall and he preceded her in death on August 11, 2017.
Linda grew up on the Hutcherson family farm near Shackleford where she attended the one-room school until she went to Eastwood Elementary in 6th grade and finished her school in Marshall Public Schools graduating from Marshall High School in 1965. While in high school, Linda developed her musical talents in band and orchestra mentored by Mr. Harold Lickey and was a charter member of the Marshall Philharmonic Orchestra. Linda attended University of Missouri-Columbia for two years until returning to operate the family farm after the birth of her daughter. In 1976, she finished her bachelor’s degree at Missouri Valley College and began her career as a school teacher at Grain Valley Public Schools, continuing as a substitute teacher in the Marshall Public Schools periodically until she became a full time teacher at the Saline County High School for several years before her retirement. After her marriage to John, Linda became a partner running Holiday Lanes Bowling Center building a large youth bowling program including instruction and state-wide competition for youth age 4-18. Linda and John built a large network of friends and customers through their involvement in bowling in Marshall and around the state. Throughout her life she invested in educating and mentoring youth – whether professionally or through her engagement with her children’s activities.
Family was the paramount priority for Linda borne from the lessons taught by her parents to support and serve their extended family. She dedicated her life to supporting her children, their activities, and providing opportunities for them to grow and excel. She spent many years caring for and supporting elderly relatives as they faced medical challenges. Her dedication to family was evident in recent years through her passionate research on family genealogy and restoring the Fairville Baptist Cemetery. However, her main joy was going to performances, competitions, and activities to support and be with her granddaughters.
Linda is survived by four children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren: Kimberly Corrine Mawson Ullmann and her husband Jeff of Kansas City; Daniel Scott Simmons and his wife Alysen Criswell of Parkville; Cynthia Ann Vandiver and her husband Matt of Mesa, Arizona; and John Hamilton Simmons IV and his partner John Morris of Sedalia; grandchildren: Lillian Elizabeth Ullmann, Scarlet Criswell Simmons, Wynne Holiday Simmons, Nicholas Vandiver, and Kathryn Vandiver Blum and her husband Josh; great-grandchildren: Isabelle, Olivia and Boaz Blum; a brother, Robert M. Hutcherson and his wife Anne; and nephew Michael J. Hutcherson and his wife Pam. Linda is also survived by several dear cousins including Marilyn Doyle, Ginny Pipe, The Eddie & Claudia Hutcherson family, Michael McGinnis and Michelle, Sandy and Priscilla.
Memorials are suggested to Saline Animal League or family choice toward restoration and maintenance of the Fairville Baptist Cemetery c/o Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home. Friends may sign the online register book at www.campbell-lewis.com.