Fran Simmons
Frances "Fran" Hames Simmons, 92, a Chattanooga matriarch, died peacefully at her Lookout Mountain home early on Thursday morning and, to paraphrase Proverbs 31:28, “her children arised up, and called her blessed.”
Fran was a delightful whirlwind, from the time she was born to The Rev. John Hames and his wife, Ethel, in Greer, S.C., until just the last few weeks when she died gracefully surrounded by her family joining her husband, Mitchell Forrest Simmons, and her oldest son, Gregory McKittrick Simmons, in eternal life.
The youngest of four daughters, the Hames girls were brought up with a devout love for Jesus Christ, and Fran, who moved to Lookout Mountain with her late husband in 1957, never lost sight of the earthly blessings that Jesus Christ bestowed on his good and faithful servant.
She graduated from Furman in 1943 with high honors. Fran’s chemistry prowess earned her a full medical scholarship to the University of North Carolina, but because she had married a year earlier, she did not pursue a medical career.
After teaching science at Charlotte Country Day, she was a substitute teacher at GPS before launching a cottage industry at the Lookout Mountain Community Aid building and employing dozens of women who were able to work from their homes. Heirloom Crafts grew into Chateau Creations and then the Simmons Collection.
Her products were sold in the nation’s leading stores and catalogs. Once she gathered a group of Lookout Mountain women to go to New York where they “quilted” in the windows of Abercrombie & Fitch on Fifth Ave. She designed all of her own products, which included a wide assortment of quilts, pillows, bags, jackets, picture hangers, lamps and lamp shades.
Fran was active in her community, most notably on the board of the TC Thompson Children’s Hospital Foundation for many years and was a fervent supporter of dozens of other civic and philanthropic organizations. She received countless honors, including being selected “Chattanooga Woman of Distinction.” Yet her daughter Barbara recalled, “Mother was a trailblazer who had it all--a deep and abiding faith, a successful career, a family she adored and countless friends --but she never saw herself as remarkable. She just loved life.”
A longtime member of the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, Fran always seemed to find time to help and encourage others. She founded a group called “The Floozies” with her closest friends and soon their monthly luncheons were almost as legendary as her famous rolls.
Fran always insisted her greatest blessings were each member of her family. Every summer she would organize “Grandchildren’s Camp” for her grandchildren, which included swimming events, marathon sessions of hide and seek, play acting, tennis lessons and outdoor adventure. Through these summer traditions, far-flung cousins became fast friends.
Fran taught and inspired her children and grandchildren by example. On the occasion of her 90th birthday, one child wrote: “You make it seem so easy—feeding legions for dinner on short notice, running your businesses and fearlessly making contacts as circumstances required, all the while making your children feel that they were the most special kids in the world.” Another spoke of the “cockeyed optimism and resilience” inherited from Fran. One grandchild remarked: “While stories can convey an adventure, you’d rather take us to places and create new memories with us instead; while lessons about hard work are important, you’d rather show us the businesses you have started and introduce the people with whom you work.”
Fran’s oldest son Greg died in a tragic accident in 1988. She is survived by her three oldest children, Barbara (Jay) Eustis of Bronxville, N.Y., Forrest (Penny) Simmons of Lookout Mountain, and John (Jane) of Memphis
Greg and his wife Christie have five children and six grandchildren. They are McKittrick (Meredith) Simmons and their children Greg, Thatcher, and Bailey of Atlanta; Gregory (Robert) Lemos and their children Eliana and Joshua of Arlington, Va.; Kristin (Robert) Ferguson of Denver; Karen (McAllison) Hebert of Atlanta, and their son Austin; and Sarah (Daniel) Matthews of Nashville.
Barbara and her husband Jay have three children and five grandchildren. They are Emily (Mark) Liggitt and their children Walker, Eloise, Marshall, and Sally of Bronxville, NY; Ross (Jackie) Eustis of New York City; and Abigail (Geoff) Sprague and their son Mitchell of Bronxville, NY.
Forrest and his wife Penny have two sons, Mitchell and Carter.
John and his wife Jane have three children and two grandchildren. They are Walker (Katie) Simmons and their daughter Mary Margaret of Dallas, Tx.; Hall (Jennifer) Simmons and their daughter Geneva Vaughn of Washington, D.C.; and Jane (Brandon) Schmidt of Arlington, Va.
Interment will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 27 in the Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27, at Lookout Mtn. Presbyterian Church with Reverend Joe Novenson officiating.
The family will receive friends from 12-1 p.m. on Monday at the church.
Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home & Cremation Center, at the foot of historic Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo, 423 821-7551.
Share your memories, stories and photos at www.wannfuneralhome.com.