Patricia Ruth “Paddy” Simmons

Patricia Ruth Cayce Simmons, 79, passed away peacefully at her home on July 7, 2020, surrounded by her children.    She was born in Michigan on July 21, 1940 to Lander Cayce and Dorothy Kimerling Cayce, both of Christian County, Kentucky.  Paddy graduated from Christian County High School and attended the University of Kentucky, where she was a member of the Blue Marlins Aquatic Ballet Club.  It was at the University of Kentucky where she met her husband and love of her life, Ted W. Simmons of Glasgow, Kentucky.  Paddy returned to college some years later at Western Kentucky University and received her Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology.  She was an instructor in the speech pathology department at Western, and later became the speech pathologist forthe Caverna Independent School System, where she remained until her retirement.  She also maintained a private speech therapy practice in Glasgow.   Paddy was known for her quick wit and her kind spirit.  She was a Wildcat fan through and through, watching reruns of old games this year on the SEC network so she could see her team play.  She shared a love of travel with Ted, and they had many adventures over years traveling in the U.S. and abroad.  Family was always first with Paddy and she is remembered as a fun and loving mother, sister, aunt and grandmother by her family.  She loved to host big family gatherings around the pool at home, or in the Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.   She is survived by her son Win Simmons and wife Julianna, and their three children Boone Simmons, Brodie Simmons and Jenna Grace Simmons, all of Bowling Green, Kentucky; her daughter Ashley Rusher and husband Derwood Rusher of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and their children  Paige Rusher of Washington, D.C., Clay Rusher of Boston, Massachusetts and Shelby Rusher of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Sister Ginny Holt and husband Homer A. Holt,Jr. of Louisville, Kentucky; sister-in-law Brenda White and husband Dale C.White of Lexington, Kentucky; and nieces and nephews.    The family requests that any expressions of sympathy take the form of a donation to Trellis Supporting Care (Hospice) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  A family graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on July 11,2020 at Glasgow Municipal Cemetery.   Arrangements entrusted to Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home.