Betty Joy Orr Simmons

Betty Joy Orr Simmons passed away peacefully Monday morning, June 5, 2023.

She was born in Provo, Utah, October 16, 1931 to Osborne L. and Edith Orr. Mom married our father Charles Keith Simmons August 22, 1953 in Chester, Utah, where they lived for a short time before moving to Provo, Utah, then to Orem, Utah where they would raise their 5 children and spend their lives. Mom and Dad were sealed for life and eternity in the Mt. Timpanogos Utah Temple March 27, 1999.

Betty received her education in Provo, where she participated in school sports as a basketball guard and a softball short stop. Mom enjoyed playing the violin in her band classes and social activities, going to school games and dances. She graduated from LDS Seminaries May 2, 1948.

Betty was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She enjoyed her callings for the church, most especially her last calling identifying and extracting names from birth and death certificates to be used in temple ordinances and blessings.

Mom enjoyed many hobbies: knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and making baby blankets for her grandchildren. Mom loved bowling. She bowled on a women’s single league. She and dad bowled on a mixed team for a while. Dad and a few of his friends built dune buggies, some bought theirs. Mom best enjoyed the time she spent with Dad and the dune buggy gang traveling, exploring, and finding arrowheads, rocks, all sorts of treasures in the southern rural areas of Utah.

Mom always loved birthday celebrations and the holidays. Us kids think Mother’s Day was special to her heart, when she could not only see her children and grandchildren but enjoyed watching them transform the grounds around her home into a floral delight. We also planted tomatoes, squash, beans, beets, and the veggies she most liked to eat. Jackie always brought the breakfast burritos Mom liked to eat. It was a great tradition and time had by ALL.

Betty Joy Orr Simmons is survived by her 2 sons and 3 daughters, Robbyn Joy Phillippe (Steven), Charles Keith Simmons Jr (Darla), Rich Simmons (Stacie), Gwen Beardall (Robert), Jackie Johnson (Tracy), 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-granddaughter.

The family would like to thank Cove Point Assisted Living, Maple Creek (Choley and Jeremy), and Covington Senior Living for the kindness and care they lovingly gave our mother.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, June 12, 2023 at Timpanogos Memorial Gardens, 1000 North 400 East, Orem, Utah. Condolences may be expressed at www.bergmortuary.com.