Wed Jan 26, 2011, 07:15 PM CST MT. VERNON - Fred E. Simmons, 82, of Mt. Vernon, passed away at 12:25 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011, at Crossroads Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon. He was born in Divide on Oct. 11, 1928, the son of Newton and Gladys "McKinney" Simmons. On June 19, 1951, in Kell, he married Dorothy Sanders and she survives in Mt. Vernon. Mr. Simmons was retired from Great Plains Gas Company. He attended Panther Fork School and graduated from Mt. Vernon Township High School. He served his country in the U.S. Army as a military policeman and was a member of the Mt. Vernon American Legion, Post #141. Mr. Simmons was a Member of Dix United Methodist Church. In addition to his wife, Mr. Simmons is survived by two children, Diana Lynn Jacobson and husband Robert of Mt. Vernon and Bruce Wayne Simmons and wife Tina of Divide; five grandchildren, Clinton Taylor and wife Kelley of Mt. Vernon, Dustin Simmons and wife Laura of Mt. Vernon, Andrew and John Jacobson of Edwardsville and Cory Simmons of Divide; three great grandchildren, Tucker and Taytum Taylor and Carleigh Rae Simmons all of Mt. Vernon and two sisters, Zella Kester of Ohio, and Evelyn Gipson of Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011, at 1 p.m. at Osborn Funeral Home in Dix, with the Rev. Michael Hall officiating. Burial will follow at Jordan Chapel Cemetery in rural Texico. Graveside military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post #141 of Mt. Vernon. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Dix United Methodist Church and received at the Osborn Funeral Home in Dix, PO BOX 130, Dix, IL, 62830. Online condolences may be made at www.osbornfuneralhomeinc.com.