Mt. Vernon - Retta M. Simmons, 93, of Mt. Vernon, passed away at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011, at Brooking Park at the Willows in Chesterfield, Mo. She was born Thursday, Jan. 3, 1918, in Knoxville, Tenn., the daughter of Charles Walter Cook and Alice Agnus (McMillan) Cook. She married David H. Simmons on Jan. 21, 1939, in Detroit, Mich., and he preceded her in death on Jan. 27, 2009. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon with the Rev. Rob Dyer officiating. A graveside committal service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Drake Cemetery in Williamson County. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to service time at the funeral home. Retta is survived by a son, Mark Simmons and wife Vicki of Manchester, Mo.; a granddaughter, Mallory Simmons and husband Lou Delgado of St. Louis, Mo.; a brother-in-law, Robert Gay of Marion, and several nieces and nephews also survive. Her parents and husband preceded her in death. Retta was a secretary for the State of Illinois Division of Vocation Rehabilitation and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Vernon. She loved dancing, fine music, literature and poetry, especially the works of Eugene Field. She instilled the values of her appreciation for the written and spoken word to her family. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Hughey Funeral Home, where you may call 242-3348 or visit www.hugheyfuneralhome1969.com for further information and to send condolences