Born in the family home in Clinton on Oct. 30, 1922 to Theodore and Astrid Simmons, Melvin T. Simmons arrived early in the morning at 4:30. I think he was anxious to get started.
Mel was one of the last “old timers” from Clinton. He went to school at the Deer Lake School until it burned down in 1933. The kids then had to attend school at the Clinton Progressive Hall until a new school was built in Clinton, on Central Avenue, which still stands today. Mel enjoyed it so much that he took the eighth grade twice. His recollection when asked about that was that he was just waiting for his brother Henry, who was one grade behind, so that they could play football and basketball together in high school. That story seems to hold somewhat true, as the local newspaper often referred to them as the “gold dust twins” due to their athletic prowess. They graduated from Langley High School in 1941.
Sometime after graduation from high school, the “twins” moved to Seattle, where they lived on Broadway and worked in a candy shop run by their Uncle Paul’s wife Helen. Mel then got a job with the Lynch furniture store in downtown Seattle, where he worked until drafted into the U.S. Army.
He reported for duty on Feb. 12, 1943 at the Coupeville Fire Hall, and from there was sent to Fort Lewis. Next stop, Kearns Field, Utah, where soldiers were housed in tents, even though there was snow on the ground. From Utah, he was sent to an Army air- base at Lake Pontchartrain, La., then to Little Falls, Minn. and then on to New York City for several weeks.
Mel’s unit, the Army’s 8th Air Force, sailed from New York in October 1943 in a converted 600-passenger cruise ship with about 1,600 other soldiers, destination Leister, England. Luck was with him as he had a top bunk. Mel served as an M.P. and was in England until the end of the war, when he was sent to Munich, Germany. He sometimes would escort prisoners, and other times he was free to tour the countryside on his Harley-Davidson. Pretty good duty, he would say.
After the war, Mel returned to Seattle, where he met Eva Mae Obert. They were married in Seattle in January 1947 and honeymooned for two days in Canada.
Mel returned to Whidbey Island in 1947, where with the help of his brothers Henry and Gordon, dad Teddy, Gus Skarberg and probably a few of the other local carpenters, built a new business to be known as Simmons Garage.
Their Uncle George talked them into selling refrigerators called Kelvinators at first, but in 1949 they began selling Ford automobiles, which they continued to sell until 1972.
Mel sold his half of the business to brother Gordon in 1977 to go into the construction business. Simmons Garage is still in business today and run by younger brother Gordon.
Mel was semi-retired from the construction business in 2008 at the young age of 86. He was still on the backhoe last month doing some trenching and loving every minute of it. We always said he got his play wire and work wire crossed up. He loved his work, whether on his bulldozer or driving one of his dump trucks. He passed away on Friday, March 19, 2010.
Mel’s wife of 60 years, Eva, died in 2007. He is survived by sons Phil (Elke), and Rick (Claudia) of Clinton, and son Paul (Nancy) of Langley; grandchildren Christopher (Lisa), Jeff (Marilyn), Jennifer (Shane), Kevin, Melissa, Saara and Skye (Jacob); great grandchildren Brandon, Angelina, Tyler, Katelynn, Savannah, Austin, Maliya and Jackson; brothers Henry (Irene) of Seattle and Gordon (Shirley) of Clinton; plus numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
Dad, we thank you for all of your help over the years and for all the things you have taught us and given us. Rest in peace. Lord knows if anyone deserves a vacation, it’s you.
Arrangements are by Visser Funeral Home, Langley. A memorial service was held Friday, March 26 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Clinton.
Friends and family may also view the online obituary, sign and leave messages at www.visserfuneralhome.com.
