Ricky Dale Simmons

Ricky Dale Simmons, 67, of Lynn, entered into rest on Friday, September 26, 2025.

Visitation for family and friends will be Thursday, October 2, 2025 from 4 - 5 p.m. at Pinkard Funeral Home in Haleyville. His memorial service will follow at 5 p.m. in the chapel.

Mr. Simmons was preceded in death by his grandmother, Kate Wheeler; parents, John and Clarice Simmons and brothers, Larry and Michael Simmons.

He is survived by wife; Dortha Simmons, daughters, Rhonda Bottoms (Todd), Karen Keith (Mike) and Stacey Barnett (Jamie); grandchildren, Clint Harris (Rusti), Corey Adams (Maria), Anna Greguol, Emily Cheatham (Seth), Hayden Barnett, Carson Barnett and Collin Barnett; great-grandchildren, Hunter Ellis, Kannen Cheatham, Claire Greguol, Cade Harris, Aria Greguol, Knoxx Cheatham and Enzo Greguol.

His tender heart for his family and pets will be missed immensely. Rick was always willing and eager to offer his assistance in any task, great or small, despite his own physical impairments, which limited his abilities, but not his ambitions. Many times after aiding family members, he paid the personal price through pain and suffering, never to complain. His sensitive heart for animals was evident in the way he cared for the family pets, continually carrying treats in his pockets. He would gladly share his meals with pets-who knew this, and begged for bites. He had a particular fondness for chocolate. He expressed this by kindly slipping a piece into the pockets of family members, which gave him great pleasure. He also enjoyed a bowl of ice cream- chocolate, of course, at night.

Rick was exceptionally talented in working with his hands. He could operate practically any piece of heavy equipment with precision accuracy. He was also talented in mechanics, having the ability to repair virtually any automobile or machine issue that arose. He had a knack for driving a tractor-trailer with preciseness. Through his years of driving a tractor-trailer, he and his wife, “Dot,” traveled safely from coast to coast.

“Pop,” your family loves you and will miss you more than you will ever know. Thank you for everything you did for us all those years: for being a dad when you didn’t have to and for being so understanding when times were tough. It has truly been an honor to have had you in our lives, though the time was cut all too short. We wish we had known what the leukemia was doing to you in time to help you like you did for us so many times. For that, we will be eternally sorry. But rest assured, we’ll take good care of Layla for you, and we’ll “kick them in the kneecap and say ‘Hi’ for you.”

We will always love and miss you, Pop.