James Shelby Simmons

There was a song a few years back that said… “If you’re gonna play in Texas, you’ve got to have a fiddle in the band.” Well, on March 27, 2025, Heaven added a steel guitar player to the heavenly worship band. Per his request, Graveside Services for James Shelby Simmons, 97 ½, (if you knew him, about a week after having a birthday, he was already counting down, the time until he would have another one!!), will be held at 1:00PM Monday, March 31, 2025 at Roselawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Calhoun, LA under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe.

Granddaddy was born on September 27, 1927, in Sikes, LA and prayers to go home to Jesus was answered on March 27, 2025. He is preceded in death by his parents, William Vincent and Pennie Parker Simmons; four brothers and six sisters.

Survivors include his children, Judy Kyzar and husband, Jimmy (Aut), Mike Simmons and wife, Kim, and Trish Kane; grandchildren, Jessica Land and husband, Lucas, Kory Kyzar and wife, Laura. Kasey Kyzar and wife, Brandi, and Kandis May and husband, Adam; and great-grandchildren, Wyatt and Westin Parker, Emory Land, Kate and Lan Kyzar, Kaylee, Keira and Kaleb Kyzar (Lil Red), Braxton (Boog), Bray (Lil Man), and Briggs May (Curly).

Special friend, Steve May, will help us in celebrating Granddaddy’s life. We would love for you to share your memories (if you want to write them down, we would love re-reading them in the months to come).

Pallbearers will be grandsons and great-grandsons.

The family would like to say special thanks to the West Monroe Guest House nurses, CNA’S, and staff that became a part of Granddaddy’s extended family during the last couple of years and for the support of Elara Caring Hospice.