Gary Simmons

Gary Thomas Simmons, 65, of Jackson, Tennessee, passed away on May 21, 2020 after a difficult battle with heart disease among other illnesses.

Gary was born on October 7, 1954  to Martha Marie Casey and Roy Lee Simmons in Jackson, TN. Gary spent his adolescent years in New Orleans, LA at the Milne Boys Home and attended Marion Abramson Senior High School. He graduated  in 1971 and returned home to study automotive mechanics at Jackson State Community College. He returned to New Orleans to finish his education in Business at the University of New Orleans.

In 1978, Gary and his late brother, Arthur John, started their first business, Simmons Brothers Towing Service in New Orleans, LA. adding a body shop and salvage yard by 1980. Gary later opened G.T.S Enterprises Complete Auto Repair. During this time, Gary met his former wife June Bertucci Matranga, and they wed in 1992, soon to have two children, Miranda Kaye and Andrew E.

Gary was endlessly passionate about engine mechanics and the physics involved in both everyday life and space exploration. He dreamed of new frontiers and the science that would take humankind there. Gary was often found rebuilding an engine in the horse barn he converted into a machine shop behind the family home in Abita Springs, LA. He also spent much of his time fixing household items and small engines for his friends and neighbors. No job was too small. When Gary was not repairing something, he spent his free time drafting an improved design. Simple advice he passed on to anyone that would listen is, “If you can draw it, you can build it.”

Gary was predeceased by his parents, Martha Marie and Roy Lee, and his beloved siblings, Linda Gayle and Arthur John. He is survived by his two children, Andrew and Miranda Kaye.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Amputee Coalition.

https://www.amputee-coalition.org/ways-to-give/honor-a-loved-one/

There will be a graveside funeral service to bury his urn at 10AM on Friday, July 10th, 2020 at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Jackson, TN.