Funeral service for Evalena Jewel Simmons will be 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at First Baptist East with Rev. Doug Passmore, pastor officiating.

Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

Evalena Jewel Simmons, age 89, of Geronimo, Oklahoma and formerly of Midland, Texas passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, June 1, 2017 surrounded by her loving family.  Evalena was born on November 25, 1927 at Randlett, Oklahoma to the late Arthur and Thelma Whitehead.  She attended and graduated from Cookietown Union Valley School.  She played on the school basketball team.  She worked very hard on the farm helping her family during the depression.

She married Melvin Eugene Simmons on November 10, 1946 in Lawton, Oklahoma.  In addition to raising two sons she worked for the City of Lawton Water Department and Southwestern Bell Telephone.

In 1961 the family moved to Midland, Texas where she was employed by Permian Oil, Texas Electric Service and Midland Tag Agency.  She was a member of the Hillcrest Baptist Church where she taught Intermediate Sunday School.  She was charter member of the Grand Chapter of Texas, Order of the Eastern Star.

Upon retirement they returned to Lawton and became members of First Baptist East.

She was a gifted porcelain arts painter, instructor and past president of the Texas Porcelain Art Federation.  She was also a member of the World Organization of China Painters, International China Painting Teachers of Texas and Oklahoma and Redbud China Painters at Chickasha, Oklahoma.

She attended and held many seminars in several states showcasing her work and helping and encouraging students on how to achieve their artistic style.  Her work has been shown at many porcelain art conventions and a piece of her art at one time hung in the state capital in Austin, Texas.  She was also asked to submit a piece of her art to be placed in the International Porcelain Art Museum in Grapevine, Texas.  Her home was filled with her work and admired by her family and friends that visited her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Thelma Whitehead, loving husband, Melvin Simmons and one brother, Tommy Whitehead.

She is survived by two sons, Gene and wife Elaine of Lawton, Oklahoma and Mike and his wife Judy of Tulsa, Oklahoma, one brother, Keith Whitehead of Cache, Oklahoma, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins all of which held a special place in her heart.

She was a loving and caring person, devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend to all who knew her.  She had a strong unwavering faith in God.