Patricia Ann Simmons Friel, 82, of Butte, Montana, went to be with her Lord Monday, July 8, 2024.
Born in 1941, at Marlinton, she was a daughter of the late James Clem Simmons and Jane Estelle Sharp Simmons.
Pat attended first grade through high school in Marlinton. She graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College with a degree in Christian Education in 1964 and Western Montana College in 1992 with a teaching degree. She enjoyed homemaking, teaching, church work, and she especially loved babysitting.
Growing up, she was quite active in church, 4-H throughout the state, and was active in the Marlinton High School Choir. She traveled to Jackson’s Mill for several summers for 4-H activities. During her college years, she remained active each summer with Church Vacation Bible programs throughout West Virginia. She went to college with the idea of becoming a missionary, and although she never became a missionary, she was quite active in Christian work all of her life. She volunteered at the Christian School for several years, taught Sunday School most of her life, Vacation Bible School during the summer, served as Church Secretary, Church Financial Secretary and worked with the Gideons. She volunteered extensively at the New Hope Pregnancy Center and the Baptist Student Program at Montana School of Mines.
Pat touched many lives and those who knew her loved and appreciated her loving nature. There was a flood of visitors and well-wishers as her health deteriorated. Pat will be sadly missed by all.
With her husband of 60 years, Leroy, she lived in West Virginia, Georgia (four years) Maine (six), and Montana (48 years). She also ventured to Mexico City for seven months in 1983.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Mark Allen Simmons in 1976, Harold Eugene “Gene” Simmons, Marvin Lewis Simmons and Clifford Marvin Simmons.
She is survived by her husband, Leroy Friel; daughter, Catherine Friel, of Butte, Montana; older brother, Jim Simmons, in Bangkok Thailand; and two sisters-in-laws, Dreama Sharp Sim- mons, of West Virginia, and “Pug” Oglesby Simmons, of Florida.
Funeral service will be held Friday, July 19, 2024, at Park Street Baptist Church in Butte, Montana.
