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SIMMONS STATES, SHIRLEY JOAN (1933-2014) passed away on July 12th, 2014 at her home in Albuquerque, NM at the age of 81. Shirley was born January 13th, 1933 in Dalhart, TX to Mary Elizabeth Sumwalt States and Earnest Franklin States. She was preceded in death by her husband Wray Ligon Simmons, first son Curtis Edgin and brother Richard States. She is survived by two sons, John and Andy Simmons and her beloved grandchildren Trevor, Conor, Rowan, Jacamo, and Emory. Shirley moved to New Mexico in 1961 and connected to it both physically and spiritually. Through their shared love of music, she met and married Wray Ligon Simmons on June 1st, 1963. She taught piano for years, and she and Wray sang and performed with choirs at Central UMC, St. John's UMC and Mountainair UMC, as well as for a variety of other events. She considered her cabin 'Castle Ponderoc' in the Manzano mountains home and she held a deep connection with the trees and the forest there. She was an avid landscape artist that expressed her love and spiritual connection to nature and the southwest landscape through her painting. In her words, "... the beauty of our earth called to me, and I responded with paint." A memorial service for Shirley will be held at the Mountainair United Methodist Church, 301 S. Sunset, Mountainair, NM on August 2nd, 2014 at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her name to the Mountainair UMC or to Chapter O, P.E.O., attn: Jennifer Warner, 20 Ryan Road, Edgewood, NM 87105
        Published on: Sun July 27, 2014