Mary Lou Simmering

Mary Louise (Carpenter) Simmering was born to Clay and Ammah (Thompson) Carpenter February 20, 1929, in Davenport, Oklahoma. Mary Lou had 3 siblings Donald, Margaret and Susan. She grew up in rural Oklahoma communities before graduating from Garber, OK High School in 1946. Upon graduating from Central State University in Edmond, OK, she worked at the YWCA in Oklahoma City. 

In 1952, she married her high school sweetheart, James Virgil Simmering.  Following his graduation from medical school, they moved to Fort Knox, Kentucky as part of the U.S. Army Medical Corps. Mary Lou, Virgil, and their 3 children Nancy, John, and Hiram then settled in Wynnewood, OK and moved to Norman, OK in 1965, where she lived until 2012. Mary Lou was a talented seamstress, knitter, cook, baker, avid golfer, pianist, and master bridge player. She loved spending time in Colorado and indulging her 6 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

She was predeceased by 2 sisters, one brother, one son, her husband of 60 years and her great- granddaughter Tova Lou.

She is survived by her daughter Nancy Millham (Steve), son John Simmering (Molly Gilmore), 6 grandchildren Katie Simmering Walters (Phil), Joe Millham, Luke Simmering (Morgan Raleigh), Anna Millham Lesser (Aaron), Rebecca Millham Boland (Joe), Mary Simmering Welsh (Andy) and 13 great-grandchildren Emory, Elsie, and Sam Walters, William and Clara Simmering, Mateus Millham, Ira, Juniper, Wendell, and Roland Welsh, Maxwell Lesser, June and Marigold Boland.

Mary Lou passed away peacefully on September 28, 2022 at Schowalter Villa in Hesston, Kansas. Memorial gifts can be directed to the Good Samaritan Fund at Schowalter Villa.

A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, November 26, 2022, at Hesston Mennonite Church, 309 S. Main, Hesston, KS.