Anna Marie Simmons

Anna Marie Surley was born Wednesday, September 7, 1927, near Meridian in Bosque County. She went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at the age of 90 years and 6 monthes. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Sunday, March 11, 2018 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Cranfills Gap with Pastor Ryan Pederson officiating. Burial will follow at Boggy Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 P.M. Saturday, March 10, 2018 at Clifton Funeral Home.

Anna was the oldest daughter of Chris and Alma (Bakke) Surley. She was baptized on October 16, 1927 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clifton. She was confirmed by Pastor O.T. Boe. In 1945, she graduated from Cranfills Gap High School after attending Cooper, Spring Creek, Cove Spring, and Meridian schools. She worked at Meeks’ Café in Gatesville until 1946. On November 23, 1946, she married Dorris Dean (DD) Simmons. They were married in the St. Olaf parsonage with Pastor Benjamin R. Maakestad officiating. Three children were born to this union, Darla, Larry, and Linda. She taught young children’s Sunday school class and was a circle leader at St. Olaf for several years. She always enjoyed her yard and flowers. She was a good seamstress and enjoyed embroidery work. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed the fresh fruits and vegetables from their orchard and garden.

Anna Marie worked at the Cranfills Gap school as tax collector from 1966 to 1971. She worked at Gap Foods for about eleven years with Dink Henderson and R.C. Reierson. Later, she worked in the same capacity as checker for Bobby and Barbara Epley, Ken May and Ronnie Wenzel. She also worked for Gap Sewing Factory and at Bertelson’s Department Store for about nine years. DD commented about Anna Marie bringing home bargains for the grandkids from Bertelson’s, “If you save us anymore money, we’ll end up in the poor house!”

She enjoyed being a member of The Red Hat Society and looked forward to lunch and game day at the community center once a month. She also enjoyed water aerobics. Family has always been one of her top priorities. She was a care giver, a peacemaker, and enjoyed family time together.

She lived in the Gap community almost all her life until moving into the Clifton Care and Rehab Center a year and a half ago.

Anna Marie and DD celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in 1971 and their 50th in 1996. They were blessed with almost 58 years of marriage when DD passed away in 2004.

She was also preceded in death by her in-laws, Earl and Lillie Simmons and Bob and Joyce Martin; parents, Chris and Alma Surley; brothers, Irvin and wife, Ragnhild Surley, Pernie and wife, Jewel Surley, Orville Surley and Joe Surley; sister, Irma Samuelson Wilcox and husbands, O.C. and Jack.

She is survived by her children, Darla Kinney and husband, Larry, Larry Simmons, Linda Thiele and husband, Tom; two brothers, Curtis and wife, Thelma Surley of Plainview, Eldon and wife, Barbara Surley of Colleyville; one sister, Alice Jeschke and husband, DuWayne of Hamilton; sisters-in-law, Virginia Surley of Brownwood and Etheline Surley of Pottsville; a host of nieces and nephews; grandchildren, Brad Kinney and wife, Pam of San Antonio, Blake Kinney and wife, Christi of Vernon, Brandi Barnes and husband, Bill of Belmont, Michigan, Kyle Simmons of St. Louis, Missouri, Krista Simmons of College Station, Larissa Montes of Meridian, and Ashley Porter and husband, Brian of Crawford; nine great-grandchildren, Makayla, Avery and Brenley Kinney, Brooke Burriola, Briley and Bryson Barnes, Lexie Montes, Carson and Camryn Porter. Anna Marie indeed lived a full and blessed 90 and ½ years