Ione Jo Simmons

Ione Jo Simmons, 88, of Pampa, passed away on Friday, August 22, 2025, in Amarillo.

Services will be at 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at the Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel with Pastor Vondel Stevens, pastor at St. Paul United Methodist Church, and John Curry, officiating. Burial will follow at Ochiltree Cemetery in Perryton under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:30 PM on Friday, August 29, 2025 at the funeral home.

Ione was born on November 14, 1936 in Perryton to Ira Nelson and Ruth Jo Hibbs Martin. She was raised in Perryton and graduated from Perryton High School in 1955. Ione married Paul Simmons on August 9, 1956. They were happily married for 53 years until his passing on August 11, 2009. She attended Frank Phillips College and later earned her realtor’s license. Ione worked as a bookkeeper for 24 years at Simmons Business Services. She was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, where her daughter pastored.

Ione was truly one of a kind, she loved deeply and felt everything deeply. She was passionate about helping others and always wanted to do more. She would be greatly upset by any injustice towards the less fortunate. Ione was compassionate and tenderhearted. She also had a great sense of humor and even participated the pranks her children pulled. Ione loved to travel and take new adventures. She enjoyed reading, painting, and writing. Ione wrote songs, poetry, and even novels. She was also a gifted pianist and organist. In her younger years, Ione sang church specials with her sister, Iris Cornell, her cousin, Patsy Waterbury, and her friend, Donna Berry. Ione will be missed dearly by her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Simmons; her parents, Ira Nelson Martin and Ruth Jo Hibbs Reardon; her stepfather, Tim Reardon; her twin sister, Iris Cornell; her dear cousin, Patsy Waterbury; and one grandson, Casey Stevens.

Ione is survived by her two children, Vondel Stevens of Pampa and E.P. Simmons of Amarillo; one grandchild, Timothy Stevens and wife Alyssa of Denton; one great-grandchild, Finnian Stevens; former exchange student and “adopted son”, Mats Kristiansson and wife Kristina of Sweden; “adopted grandchildren", Malin Gustafsson, Filip Kristiansson, and Emil Kristiansson all of Sweden; her St. Paul United Methodist Church family; three special friends, Karen McCammond, Vickie Lee, and Shellene Dancy; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be sent to St. Paul Methodist Church, 511 N Hobart St, Pampa, Texas, 79065 or the United Methodist Committee on Relief, Global Ministries/UMCOR, GPO, P.O. Box 9068, New York, New York, 10087-9068.