Funeral  services will be held for Mary Simmons Thames on Thursday, September 2, 2021, at 3:00 PM at Kilpatrick Funeral Home, West Monroe, Louisiana, with Dr. Mark Fenn officiating.  Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until time of the service at 3:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Hasley Cemetery, West Monroe.

Mary was born November 25, 1932, in Sikes, Louisiana, to Iley Pierce and Rosa Sikes Simmons and died August 29, 2021, at Savannah Grand of Bossier City, Louisiana.

Following graduation from Sikes High School, she married her high school sweetheart, Donald Thames, in September 1951.She was his partner through years in the military, in college, and in his career in real estate, construction, and business development until his death in 1975. They were blessed with three children: Don, Lori, and Carol.

Mary was a member of First Baptist Church,West Monroe, where she was employed as church clerk and as a member of the secretarial staff for 25 years. She was also a member of Agape Life Group, a Sunday School class whose members lived life together as family. Her greatest joys were becoming a grandmother and watching her grandchildren grow from babies to teens to young adults and then becoming a great-grandmother.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Mary was preceded in death by sisters Earline Barlow and Vanoil Adams, and brothers Cois, Devane, and Frank Simmons. She is survived by her children, Don Thames and wife, Janell; Lori Thames; and Carol Thames Matthews and husband, Allan. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jared Thames and wife, Margaret; Seth, Marilou, and Colbey Sharp, and by her great-grandson, Nathan Thames. Additionally, she is survived by brothers LaVance and Gene Simmons (Louceal) and by sisters Annette Rankin (Gerald) and Linda Bowman.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Jared Thames, Seth Sharp, Colbey Sharp, Greg Bowman, Philip Rankin, and Regan Rankin.  Honorary pallbearers are Gary Simmons, Donnie Adams, and Mike Adams.

The family thanks Debbie Hicks and June Bennett, Savannah Grand administrators at West Monroe and Bossier City, as well as the staff of Passages Hospice-Minden for their attentive care and love for our mom.

Persons wishing to give memorials in lieu of flowers may direct them to Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 4196, Monroe, Louisiana 71211; the Jason Paul Cameron Foundation, P.O. Box 2474, West Monroe, Louisiana, 71294; or Church Catalyst, 2201 Long Prairie Rd., Suite 107-329, Flower Mound, Texas 75022.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com