Irene "Tori" Avery Simmons

Irene (Tori) Avery Simmons, age 76, went to be with the Lord on July 23rd, 2024. She was also reunited with her son and husband of over 50 years, both of whom previously died of cancer.

Tori was born on March 13, 1948 in Salem, Oregon to Bill and Eunice Chase. She met the love of her life, Daryl Simmons, and married him on November 7, 1964. Their son, Darren, was born in January of 1966, the same year that she graduated from Marshall High School. Daryl and Tori moved their family to Anchorage, Alaska in 1969 so that Daryl could help in building the Alaska Pipeline. During this time, their family grew to include Dawn and Holly. They also stayed busy as foster parents.

In 1975, Daryl and Tori moved to North Pole, Alaska. They were founding members of Lord of Life Lutheran Church and spent a lot of their time helping and building the church. Tori also started her own flower shop called North Pole Floral. She was extremely creative and talented. After many years of success, she opted to change from being an employer to an employee at Gavora’s Super Valu, so that she would have a more flexible schedule. She met several lifelong friends and had enough time off to travel around the country with her family.

In 1988, Daryl and Tori, welcomed their first grandchild, Kathleen, who they had the honor of raising for her first 5 years. Although they absolutely loved having kids in their home, Daryl and Tori, learned to appreciate their new life with less responsibility. They retired in their 50s and continued to enjoy traveling. They found a home in Chandler, TX. Daryl and Tori didn’t stay there long, before moving to Wheaton, Minnesota to be closer to Tori’s brother, Bill, and his wife, Patty. In Wheaton, they were able to care for Tori’s aging parents. They became members of Bethlehem Covenant Church, which became a huge support system of love and friendship for Tori when she lost Daryl and Darren.

Tori lived a very full and busy life. She managed to visit 49 of the 50 states and travel to several other countries. She made the most of every day, whether she had to work or got to play. She loved her family, friends, and pets and made sure that they knew it. She put her full trust in the Lord during the good times and the bad. In the last day of her life, nurses at the hospital remembered how

Tori had encouraged them in their faith days earlier, while they were caring for her. She was loved and will be missed.

Tori is survived by her daughters: Dawn (Richard) Bennett; and Holly (Shane) Garrett; son-in-love: Shawn Niebolte; grandchildren: Kathleen (Dustin) Walters; Regan Garrett; Matthew; Hallie; Ashley; Jesse; and Brylee(Bennett); great grandchildren: Kami; Mika; Robert (Crosby); Dustin; Vanessa; Harlan; Kenson (Walters); and Aspen Bennett; brother: Bill (Patty) Chase; brothers-inlaw: Dave (Liz) Simmons; and Donald Simmons; nephews: Mark (Julie) Simmons; Shawn Simmons; and Douglas Simmons; nieces: Kirsten (Erik) Schirmer; Gretchen (Shawn) Walker; and Meagan Simmons; and her beloved dog, Patches.

Tori was preceded in death by her husband, Daryl Simmons; her son, Darren Simmons; her parents: Bill and Eunice Chase; and parents-in-law: Harold and Laura Simmons.

Tori’s life will be celebrated at 2 pm on November 2nd, 2024 at 805 Block Road, Gunter, TX 75058.