Madalyn "Gene" Simmons

Madalyn "Gene" Simmons, 86, formerly of Battle Creek died in Graniteville, SC on Thursday, September 11, 2014.

Madalyn "Gene" Rose Simmons was born in Dearborn, MI on February 18, 1928 to Charles Lawrence Rose and Maude Gay Joy Rose. She joined two sisters, Shirley Rose (Gjukis) and Carol Rose (Polischuck)-now deceased. Her father, Charles died when Gene was a toddler. The family moved to the Battle Creek area, Maude married Leo Joslyn and the girls were raised on the Joslyn farm and joined by two brothers, Thomas (Marge) Joslyn and Lowell-now deceased (Lois) Joslyn. Gene graduated from Lakeview High School and attended Argubright Business College. After school, she worked at Percy Jones General Hospital. Later she moved to Trenton, NJ and worked for the New Jersey State Police. In Trenton she met and later married John Shotts Simmons (1928-2006) on February 19, 1955. After a couple of years, they decided to take their daughter, Randye Patrice (Michael Kinzler) Simmons and move to Battle Creek, MI. They lived at the Joslyn farm for a while and then moved to the Gull Lake area while waiting for their new home to be ready to move in to. During this time they had a son, Bradley John Simmons. After her children got into school, she was employed at Comerica Bank and Battle Creek Unlimited, retiring in 1989. They lived in their home for 55 years. They also had property in Northern, MI, where they enjoyed mushrooming and the wildlife. Gene has spent the last few years living in Graniteville, SC with her son, daughter and son-in-law. Gene enjoyed knitting, Michigan Football and keeping up with politics.

Gene also leaves the grandchildren that she loved so; Charles (Nichole) Kinzler, Keith (Melissa) Kinzler, Patrick (Brittanie) Kinzler, Joel (Courtney) Simmons, Alexandra (Chris) Simmons; and two great-grandchildren, Trenton Kinzler and Victoria Kinzler.

Friends will be received 9:00-10:00 a.m. Friday at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, where memorial services will be officiated by Rev. Dr. Mona K. Joslyn 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 19, 2014. Committal and inurnment will follow at Ft. Custer National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lifespan Good Samaritan Hospice Residence, 5470 Glenn Cross Rd., Battle Creek, MI 49015 or the COPD Foundation, 3300 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Miami, FL 33134. Personal messages for the family may be placed here at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.