John Phillip Simmons – son of Dr. A. D. and Macel Simmons, passed away on Thursday, April 28, 2022, from complications of heart disease. He was born February 14, 1951 and grew up in Corryton, Tennessee. He was a member of Washington Presbyterian Church. Phil graduated from Gibbs High School in 1969 and attended Lincoln Memorial University. He took his Doctor of Pharmacy from Samford University in 1974. He practiced at University Hospital where he met his wife, Goldie Ann. Phil retired from the pharmacy at Parkwest Hospital after 33 years of service. Mari-Ben Farm was in Phil’s heart. He grew up putting up hay, showing cows with 4-H, learning to drive a tractor, and the things farm boys did. He also grew up hunting and fishing with his father, Doc Simmons, and became an avid outdoorsman. Phil was a founding member of the East Tennessee Masters Association, a member of the English Mountain Boar and Bear Hunting Club, and the Grassy Fork Hunting Club. Phil also enjoyed hosting the Simmons farm dove hunts. He relished pushing the limits in skiing, riding rapids, bear hunting – as long as it was risky. His driving record was notorious, and he loved to take people for a spin in his Mini Coopers. Excursions with his friends were often legendary with stories sometimes hard to believe. Most stories were based in truth, but Phil could embellish. Story-telling was a skill he and his good friends, the late John Bean and Jerry “Woody” Hutson, had fine-tuned. He was a generous man. He supported his family members in their business ventures both financially and with enthusiasm. Phil enjoyed making fudge for the family, grilling tomahawk steaks and sharing the vegetables from his garden. Phil loved his dogs, in particular Dooley and Jet.
Preceded in death by his parents and wife, Goldie.
Phil is survived by brother, David (Brenda) Simmons; sisters, Sylvia (Steve) Babelay, Rada (John) Rolison; stepdaughters, Jackie Rader, Karen (Mike) Bates; and a host of nieces, nephews, grands and great grands. Phil will be sorely missed by his family and his special friends, Doc Robinson, Rodney Satterfield, Tom Fielden, Marcus Shirley, Beth Donahue, and Dr. Robert Montgomery.
The family will receive friends 4:00-7:00 PM on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Bridges Funeral Home followed by a memorial service at 7:00 PM. Family and friends will meet at 10:45 AM on Monday, May 9, 2022, at Greenwood Cemetery for an 11:00 AM graveside service. Pallbearers: Weston Babelay, Ben Mooney, Zach Rader, Logan Bates, Dasanimore Bates, Wousamy Bates. Honorary pallbearers: The Masters. Arrangements by Bridges Funeral Home, 5430 Rutledge Pike, 865-523-4999. www.bridgesfuneralhome.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of John Phillip Simmons February 14 1951 April 28 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Knoxville, Province: T-N