E. Gary Simmons

Elton Gary Simmons, 84, of Mt. Dora, FL passed away Tuesday, May 2, 2017. Born in Jacksonville, Fla., he was the son of the late William Jay and Louise Moore Simmons. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1951, and immediately joined the Unites States Marine Corp and served in the Korean War. He received his college degree from the University of Virginia.
Gary began his banking career as a loan officer in 1956 and retired in 1993 as President of First Union Bank in Eustis, Fla. He was a long-standing member and past president of the Rotary Club and the Children’s Home Society.
Surviving Gary are his wife of 62 years, Frances Kight Simmons, and children Georgia (Dan) Horgan, Melodie (Rick) Ruse, Neil Simmons and Crystal Garner. Siblings include Linda (Fred) Krabbe, Nell (Buck) Harnage, Sherry (Allen) Kubek and the late Ray (Eileen) Simmons. Grandchildren include Dan (Kim) Horgan, Jr., Pam (Dennis) Schwettmann, Ryan (Shena) Simmons, Tyler Simmons, Christina (Trent) Reed, Chad Simmons and Jared Garner. There are nine great-grandchildren.
Visitation will begin at 4:00 p.m., followed by a service at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 5 at Harden-Pauli Funeral Home, 1617 S. Bay Street, Eustis. A graveside service will be on Sunday, May 7 at 11 a.m. at Riverside Memorial Park, 7242 Normandy Boulevard in Jacksonville.
The family requests donations in lieu of flowers to the Wounded Warriors Project or The Russell Home for Atypical Children in Orlando.