James Lee Simmons

1923 - 2018

James Lee Simmons, a New Mexico resident for 77 Years and Albuquerque resident for 61 Years, passed away in Albuquerque, NM, on June 13, 2018, at the age of 95.  He was born in Cushing, OK in January 1923.  He attended school in nearby Ripley, OK.  During that time of the Great Depression, he would earn money by helping his dad sell meat door to door, and his dad would farm him out as laborer.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942. He volunteered for submarine service while in boot camp at Great Lakes, IL, and completed submarine warfare training at New London, CT.  He was a Torpedo man's Mate and went to school for Electrical and Mark 14.

Vessels and stations, he served on:

USNTS Great Lakes, Illinois

USN Torpedo Station, New Port, RI

Sub Base, New London, CT

USS BlueFish (SubDiv - 162)

USS Cod (SS - 224)

USS Ray (SS - 271)

Wartime awards and decorations:

Victory Medal

American Area

Asiatic - Pacific (1 Star)

Philippine Liberation (2 Stars)

Navy Good Conduct Medal

Submarine Combat Insignia (1 Silver Star)

Jim was honorably discharged from the Navy in January 1946. Jim met Anne, his wife of 52 years in Michigan and were married June 28th, 1947 and had two children. They eventually moved to New Mexico and had one more.  Jim and Anne worked hard and provided a blessed life and home for their family.

Jim directed his attention and energy to his passion for submarines and veterans' affairs.  He was a member of the New Mexico Veterans Memorial Board and spent untold hours volunteering his service toward the development and completion of the New Mexico Veterans Memorial site and facilities in Albuquerque.  Jim served as Secretary, for the Sandia Chapter, of the Bullhead Base of the U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc., and was a proud member of the Holland Club, a division of the SubVets organization named after the very first US SubMarine, the Holland.  He helped toward the commissioning of the USS New Mexico, one of the Navy's newest Virginia class fast-attack nuclear submarines.  His participation as an exceptionally active member of the Submarine Veterans of WWII was a vitally important part of his life and we were immensely proud of his contributions!

Jim was 95 years old when he passed, and unfortunately, was preceded in death by everyone from his generation, including his beloved wife, Anne; grandson, Josh Freek; and great-grandson, Kyle Miller.  Jim is survived by his son, Dennis Simmons; loving daughters, Darlene Swofford and husband, John, of Santa Fe, NM and Debbie Hunt, of Albuquerque, NM; grandsons, Chris Masters and wife, Beckie, of Belen, NM and Michael Freek and wife, Kristen, of New Mexico; granddaughters, Karen Masters, of Los Lunas, NM and   Leah Freek, of Santa Fe, NM; great-grandchildren, Courtney Holbrook, of Belen, NM and Kaileigh Miller, of Los Lunas, NM and Lexie Masters, of Belen, NM and Tyler Miller, of Los Lunas, NM and Zoey Freek, of Rio Rancho, NM and Ryan Masters, of Belen, NM and Lucas Freek, of Taylor Ranch, NM and Aiden Freek, of Santa Fe, NM and DJ Freek, of New Mexico and Jazmin Freek of New Mexico, and Aubrey Freek, of Santa Fe, NM; great-great-grandchildren, Wesley Holbrook, of Belen, NM and Bradley Holbrook, of Belen, NM.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, July 6th, 2018, 10:00 a.m., at Fairview Cemetery, 700 Yale Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM.