Gary Lee Simmons was born on February 4, 1950 in Nampa, Idaho to Garth and Leona Simmons. Gary passed away at home with his wife Jackie and his daughter Hilarie (Joshua) at his bedside on March 21, 2017. Gary grew up in Nampa among a neighborhood of friends. His best friend, Gary Moore was always there and together they explored and enjoyed their youth. Gary enjoyed bowling, fishing, camping, hunting, basketball, track and swimming. He graduated from Nampa High School in 1968 and attended Ricks College in Rexburg. Gary held a variety of jobs throughout his life some included working at Thorne Printing, Home Dairies, and Nampa Meridian Irrigation Company which is where he retired after 26 years of managing the dam at Barber Park, running water from the Boise River into the Riddenbaugh Canal. Gary and Jackie Riply were married on October 24, 1998. Together they have enjoyed life and battled the many challenging health issues which Gary has endured. Always learning something new and gaining new friends along the way. There are many friends in Gary's life but the following he holds especially dear to his heart and deserve special mention and they are John Anderson, Dr. Michael Mallea, PA Lisa Sanders, and the doctors and staff at Idaho Nephrology. A heart filled thank you for being there when Gary needed you goes out to the staffs at St. Luke's Hospital and Hospice and St. Al's Infusion Center. Gary was able to able to enjoy life longer because of your care. Gary is the oldest of four children and is survived by his wife and daughter Hilarie (Joshua) along with three beautiful grandchildren: Ashlyn, who is 5, Dallin, who is 3, and Collin, who is 1; his parents Garth and Leona Simmons; his sisters Mary Ann Oswald (Mike), Bonnie Greenwood (Milt); and his brother Kent Simmons (Angie) along with numerous nieces and nephews. Gary has had several special animals in his life and presently has two dogs named Patches and Tia that mean the world to him. To honor his love for them we would like to ask that a donation be made to the Idaho Humane Society in Lieu of flowers. Gary's celebration of life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, March 27, at Zeyer Funeral Chapel, 83 N Midland Blvd, Nampa. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens located at Highway 55 and Karcher Road.
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