Veldora Lee Simmons Obituary (1929 - 2022)

Veldora Simmons passed away on Saturday, April 30, 2022. On Tuesday, May 10, 2022, a graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM at the Mt. Jefferson Memorial Cemetery in Madras, Oregon. Veldora was born on April 26, 1929, in Emmett, Idaho. Her early years were spent with her mother, Ruby (Mallory), and step-father, Arnold Amen, traveling throughout Idaho. Her sister, Shirley, and brother Jack came along as the little family moved on to Central Oregon. Arnold found work paving the Bend/Burns Hwy, working in the woods, and later ranching. The family lived in tents, in a shack, and even under a bridge, whatever the job and location required. Through the moves, Veldora went to school in Bend, Sisters, and Redmond. At 17, while at a dance with friends, she set her eyes on a tall, clean-cut, handsome young man. As he walked past, she asked where he was headed. He answered he was going outside, would she like to go? She quickly replied, "Sure!" and in her words, the rest is history. At 18, Veldora Amen married Raymond Glenn Simmons on November 26, 1947., in Redmond, Oregon. It wasn't long before she had her oldest son, Bob, by one hand and youngest son, Jim, on her other hip. These years of chasing her boys and helping Glenn in his farming and ranching endeavors were her favorite. Soon the family grew to include five grandkids, adding to her chores and years of happiness. Later, in 1982, Glenn and Veldora moved from the ranch at Grizzly to Madras, deciding it was time to retire in 1990. Through their generations of kids and their kids' kids, their great joy was attending the kids' sports, school, and 4-H activities. In those days, there were very few games in Jefferson County that Glenn and Veldora weren't in the bleachers, cheering on all the kids. And the family grew, with ten great-grandkids and four great-great-grandchildren. Glenn & Veldora made many friends over the years in all the Central Oregon places they lived. And as always, both enjoyed being members of First Baptist Church. January 5, 2017, after moving back to Madras, Veldora lost her life's partner with Glenn's passing. For the first time, she found her strength in her independence, but after 70 years of their union, it was a difficult place to be. In 2021, she moved to Richland, Oregon, to be with her son, where she passed away in Baker City, Oregon, four days after turning 93 years old. Veldora is survived by her son Bob (Andee), brother Jack Amen (Nancy), five grandchildren: Ryan, Kirk, Teresa, Julie & Wade, ten great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her son Jim and her husband, Glenn. Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Veldora to the American Heart Association through Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel at 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.