Wayne Simmons

N. Wayne Simmons, 76, of Imbler, died Nov. 21 in La Grande. A gathering in honor of Wayne will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Imbler Christian Church. Coffee and cookies will be served after the service.

He was born Oct. 23, 1932, to Elmo Simmons and Mable Heltzel Simmons in Centralia, Okla. After high school he served in the U.S. Air Force as a crew chief on a B-47 bomber.

He married Nina LaVerne Girdner in August 1954; they had four children. He worked in the space program for NASA for many years before moving his family to Elgin in 1973. He had a welding shop in Elgin then went to work for Boise Cascade until retirement.

During his later years he was a member of the Rusty Wheels car club, enjoyed restoring old cars, tinkering in his shop and spending time with his grandkids.

He is survived by his wife, Nina; six siblings; his four children and their spouses, Robin and Steve Bishop of Fruitland, Idaho, Mark and Joni Simmons of Salem, Cindy and Kevin Sherman of Boise and Lee and Annie Simmons of Clatskanie; 14 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the building fund for the Imbler Christian Church Youth Center or La Grande Hospice.

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