Founding AAWGA Member, Connie Simmons, Dies at 96

Obituary from Ann Arbor News (2009)

Simmons, Constance Mary (Swindells), age 96, passed away peace-fully January 28, at the Saline Evangelical Home. She was born in Bridgeport, CT, on August 28, 1912 to Harry and Ada Swindells. In 1920 she moved to Detroit with her family. Upon graduating from Detroit Cathedral Central High School, she went to work for Crowley Milner Company, and became a clothing buyer in the women’s department.

On June 16, 1934 she married Clifford H. Simmons, to whom she was married almost 62 years until his passing in 1996. In 1939, they moved to Ann Arbor where Cliff took a job with the King-Seeley Corp.

“Connie” was a homemaker while she lived in Ann Arbor, raising two sons. She was also an avid golfer the whole time she lived in Ann Arbor. She was medalist in several Ann Arbor City golf tournaments in the ’50s, and played in the Detroit Woman’s District for many years. She was a member of the Pine Tree Golf Club, the Little Club, the Ocean Club and Delray Beach Club in Delray Beach, FL, and a life member of both Barton Hills Country Club and Travis Pointe Country Club in Ann Arbor. She was a founding member of the Ann Arbor Women’s Golf Association. She also was a member of the The King’s Daughter Circle, the Ann Arbor Women’s City Club, The Thrift Shop, The Michigan Hospital Auxiliary. For several years she was involved in the Ann Arbor United Fund drive, serving as the residential chair on more than one occasion.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Sydney Swindells, her son and daughter-in-law, Steven M. Simmons and Ruth E. Simmons. She is survived by her son, David T. Simmons, her grandchildren, Clifford H. Simmons II,Christine S. West, Rebekah R. Simmons, and Sarah E. Simmons, by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Kenneth G. and Lois Simmons, as well as nieces, nephew, seven great-grand-children, and numerous dear friends.

A memorial family mass will take place at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Saline. Interment has taken place at Washtenong Memorial Cemetery in Ann Arbor. Memorial contributions may be made to Arbor Hospice or the Saline Evangelical Home that took such good care of her in her last years.

[AAWGA donated $50 to Arbor Hospice in memory of Connie.]

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