Retta M. Simmons, 93, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois passed away at 6:45 P.M. on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at Brooking Park at the Willows in Chesterfield, Missouri. Mrs. Simmons was born on Thursday, January 3, 1918 in Knoxville, Tennessee the daughter of the late Charles Walter and Alice Agnus (McMillan) Cook. She married David H. Simmons on January 21, 1939 in Detroit, Michigan and he preceded her in death on January 27, 2009. Surviving family member include her son: Mark Simmons and wife Vicki of Manchester, Missouri; granddaughter: Mallory Simmons and husband Lou Delgado of St. Louis, Missouri; brother-in-law: Robert Gay of Marion, Illinois; several nieces and nephews also survive. Her parents and her husband preceded her in death. Retta was a secretary for the State of Illinois Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. She loved dancing, fine music, literature and poetry, especially the works of Eugene Field. She instilled the values of her appreciation for written and spoken word to her family VISITATION: will be held from 9:00 A.M. to service time at 10:30 A.M. Friday, February 11, 2011 at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. FUNERAL SERVICES: will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, February 11, 2011 at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Reverend Rob Dyer will officiate. INTERMENT: Graveside Committal Service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, February 11, 2011 at Drake Cemetery in Williamson County, Illinois.