In Loving Memory of
Bryan Tyler SIMMONS
February 23rd, 1966 – October 23rd, 2019
Bryan Tyler Simmons was born at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Portsmouth Virginia on the morning of February 23, 1966 to Petty Officer Hosea Lamar Simmons and Mrs. Katherine Shirley Tyler Simmons of Norfolk, Virginia where they were stationed with the Navy.
He was always a very special child who brought joy and laughter to those who met him. He was in constant motion but he never crawled. Instead he’d use a right hand on his left foot and left hand on his right foot cross-over movement scooting to wherever he chose to go and then stand.
New shoes, new pacifiers or soft textured foods were not his favorites. He liked and always wanted a birthday cake, but not to eat. At the top of his last grocery list was Cracker Jacks.
He didn’t like tricycles but wore out numerous big wheel trikes by peddling as fast as he could and then coming to a spinning stop which wore out both rear tires and then he’d need a new one.
His first relocation was to Temple Hills Maryland. While there Bryan attended Hope Daycare Center and was selected to accompany his “Principal of the Year” to successfully solicit funds for special education.
His next move was to Pensacola Florida where he participated in Special Olympics track and field events. No problem getting him started in the events, but a slight problem getting him to stop.
In his school’s spring festival, not only did Bryan sing his class songs, he sang all of the other classes’ songs louder than they sang them.
Next new home, Indianapolis where he learned how to read his first “Dick, Jane, & Spot” book, much to his mom and dad’s surprise. By his next stop at Bolling Air Force Base directly across the river from National Airport, he learned the names and tail markings of all of the airlines.
His favorite travel mode was Greyhound buses. For every Greyhound sighting, you had to answer his question, Where’s it going? One of his favorite hang outs, Gravelly Point Park at the foot of the National Airport landing strip with his binoculars. He also loved Crystal City hotels with a clear view of planes, trains and boats.
Some of his favorite vacations, were to New York, London, Paris, and his Amtrak trips to Florida. He also loved his Myrtle Beach road trips with a must stop at “South of the Border” for a must-buy tee shirt, deck of cards and bumper sticker.
No Sunday was complete without first listening to WHUR gospel radio on the way to his Fort Belvoir Chapel’s 1100 service. He considered those members as his dearest friends. He was a full participant, lighting the Advent candles, participating in Chaplain Bart’s sermon with the response of “And now What?” He was always waiting at the bottom step for the chaplains to come to fellowship hour so he could ask a question or comment on the sermon. His Sunday wouldn’t be complete without letting a choir member know “Hey, I want to sing in the choir.”
As one of the choir members wrote, “Bryan will now be singing with the angels in the heavenly choir.”
Bryan is survived by his older brother Quentin and his Sister-in-Law Susan, his nephews Alec and Cameron, his aunts Edna, Thelma and Mary Jane and a host of other relatives.
“Bryan, Rest in Peace
We will Miss You!”
