GALESBURG — Earl Leon Simmons, 63, of Galesburg died Monday, Aug. 29, 2011, near Chanute. He had been in ill health but death was unexpected.

He was born Nov. 3, 1947, to Thomas and Dorothy (Hopeman) Simmons near Kimball. He moved with his family to a farm near Galesburg in December 1947. He attended schools in Galesburg and was a 1965 graduate of Galesburg High School. He served in the Kansas National Guard from 1964 to 1970.

Through the years his employment included Galesburg Grain, Wayne Wilkins Construction, the Katy Railroad, Autry Construction and Beachner Construction. He was currently employed by the Neosho County Road and Bridge Department.

He had lived on the family farm most of his life until moving to Galesburg in 2010. He was a long-time member of George L. Hendricks Post No. 102, American Legion, in Erie.

Survivors include a brother, John Simmons and his wife, Pat, of rural Parsons; three sisters, Lucille Janssen of rural Parsons, Lillian Roosevelt and her husband, Steve, of Sedan, and Nancy Dague and her husband, Don, of Galesburg; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and followed by his sister, Shirley Aiken, at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday in Lino Lakes, Minn.

The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Galesburg United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery near Galesburg. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to the Galesburg Relief Foundation. These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.