Bill Simmons

William V. “Bill” Simmons, 86, Sun City West, Arizona, formerly of St. Joseph, Missouri, passed away on May 14,2026 while visiting in St. Joseph, Missouri.

He was born August 10, 1939 in Shenandoah, Iowa, to Sterling and Vivian (Whitehill) Simmons. He graduated from Farragut, Iowa, High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Northwest Missouri State University.

On February 15, 1992, Bill married Kay Ames, with whom he shared 34 years together. She survives of the home.

He was a cattle buyer for Swift & Company and together they owned Cecil Baker Livestock Company at the St. Joseph Stockyards.

Bill was a member of the Zeredetha Blue Lodge, a member of the Scottish Rite A.F. & A.M., a member of the Moila Shrine; and the Royal Order of Jesters Court #98.

He participated in SEFF and supported the new Ag Building at NWMSU.

He was a member of Desert Palms Presbyterian Church in Sun City West and a former member of Ashland United Methodist Church in St. Joseph.

The Mash Unit was his golf group, and he had four holes in one. Bill enjoyed the Iowa Hawkeyes and St. Louis Cardinals and fulfilled a childhood dream of attending spring training games yearly in Surprise, Arizona. He enjoyed cards, playing Gin Rummy and Progressive Hand & Foot.

He was preceded in death by his parents, baby brother Robert and his first wife, Patricia Guertin Simmons.

Survivors include wife, Kay; children, Kelly Johnson of Springfield, Missouri, Scott (Denise) Simmons of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Krisanne Bradley (Mike) of Leawood, Kansas, Kim Kruse (Ken) of Gardnerville, Nevada, and Kerry Ames (Amy) of St. Joseph; grandchildren, Blair Mahobian (Pejmon), Lane Trucks (Clark), Ben Bradley, Max Bradley, Miguel Simmons, Matthew Kruse, Zach (Dani) Kruse, Kenzie Bottorff, and Haylie Ames; great-grandchildren, Tate and Vivian Trucks, Lila Mahobian and his cousin Mike (Ann) Whitehill of Surprise, Arizona.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Ag Department at Northwest Missouri State University or the Noyes Home for Children. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.