George Cole Simmons, 86, of Portageville, Mo., died Monday, Oct. 4, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo.

Born Jan. 17, 1918, at Lake Cormorant, Miss., a son of the late Mose and Frances Cole Simmons, he was a member of Zion Rock Missionary Baptist Church at Portageville.

He married Mary Branch who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by three sisters and two brothers.

Survivors include three daughters, Georgie Lee Baptist and Peggy Ray, of Memphis, Tenn., and Angie Jones of Portageville; one son, John Douglas Dial of Stuart, Fla.; three sisters, Eula Simmons and Jeannie Jordan of Hughes, Ark.; two brothers, Johnny Simmons of Chicago and Mose Simmons of Hughes, Ark.; 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at Zion Rock Church with the Rev. Robert L. Anderson officiating.

Burial in the Portageville Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Terry Smith, Daniel Robertson, Nathan Young, Shawn Moore, Roderick Brown and Richard Wigfall.