GARY SIMMONS, 66, of Burden, Kansas, passed away Sunday morning February 12, 2011 at his home.

Born on September 30, 1945 in Winfield, Kansas, he was the son of Leonard A.W. and Neva (Hall) Simmons. Gary was raised in the Grandview Community and attended Sunnyside grade school. He later attended and graduated from Winfield High School in 1963.

He was united in marriage on April 19, 1963 to Sue Nichols in Wichita, Kansas. Gary was employed at Smith & Moon and Binney & Smith before beginning employment at Cessna Aircraft in 1965. He worked in the sheet metal assembly department and later as a facilities mechanic in the maintenance department retiring in August of 2005. During this time he and wife Sue owned and operated a quarter horse breeding operation. Gary was also a horse trainer for 25 years. In 2008 the couple started the Boots n Bible Horsemanship Camp with Camp Horizon in Arkansas City, serving youth throughout the state of Kansas.

He was a member of the Grandview United Methodist Church. Gary was a member of the AQHA, Kansas Horse Council and the Machinists Union at Cessna. He was a past member of the Winfield Saddle Club, Arkansas City Mavericks Saddle Club and the KQHRA. He also enjoyed hunting and entertaining.

His family includes:
His wife: Sue of the home;
His son: Ty Simmons and wife Crystal of Winfield, KS;
His daughter: Beth Biddle and husband Jess of Winfield, KS;
His mother: Neva Simmons of Winfield, KS;
His brothers: Marion Simmons and wife Pat, and Max Simmons and companion Beulah all of Winfield, KS;
His grandchildren: Jordan White and wife Talia, Brittany White, Jenna Simmons, Tanner Simmons, Amy Sawyer, Kari Biddle and fiancé Troy Boone, Kayla Smith and husband Richard, Kash Biddle and Kendall Biddle;
His great-grandchildren: Gracie Sawyer, Gage Wilson and Aiden Golightley; and
A host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father Leonard.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, February 17, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church in Winfield. Private inurnment will take place at a later date at the New Salem Cemetery.

A memorial has been established in Gary's name for the Legacy Foundation/Boots n Bible Horsemanship Camp. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.