Fletcher Simmons

Fletcher Simmons, 65, of Manhattan, Kansas, formerly of Franklin County, passed away Friday, November 4, 2016, at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Celebration of life service will be held from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M., Sunday, November 13, 2016, at Colbert’s Restaurant, 5200 Colbert Hills Drive, Manhattan. Memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M., Friday, November 11, 2016, at First United Methodist Church, 203 E. 4th Street, Ottawa. Family will meet with friends immediately following services at Smoked Creation, 222 E. Logan Street, Ottawa. Cremation is planned with private family inurnment at Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, at a later date. Fletcher was born Thursday, June 14, 1951, in Ottawa, Kansas, the son of Harold D. and LaVera I. (Horst) Simmons. He lived in Manhattan since 1983 moving from Topeka, where he lived since 1974. Fletcher graduated from Pomona High School with the class of 1969 and continued his education at Emporia State University obtaining his bachelor of science in business in 1973. In 1984, Fletcher completed educational requirements for his Member Appraisal Institute (MAI). Fletcher was united in marriage to Treva Miller in 1983 at Topeka. She survives of the home. Other survivors include his son, Larry Burgess and wife Tracy of Overland Park; sister, Janet Simmons Radcliffe and husband Robert of Overbrook; two grandchildren, Caleb and James Burgess; and two nieces, Susan Rogers and Julie Radcliffe both of Ottawa. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and LaVera Simmons. Fletcher formed the Simmons Company October, 1988, where he was president and owner since that time. He engaged full-time in fee appraising of real estate in the Midwest. From 1978 to 1988, he was a commercial real estate appraiser with David Craig and Company. He was also employed by the state of Kansas from 1974 to 1978 in the Property Valuation Department in Topeka. He was appointed and served six years on the Kansas Real Estate Appraisal Board. In 1998, he served as chairman of the organization. In 1991, Fletcher served as president of the Greater Kansas Chapter of the Appraisal Institute. He was a 30-year member of the Manhattan Rotary Club and also a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. Fletcher was also a member of the Tavenier, Florida, Lodge 1872, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and baptized member of the First United Methodist Church of Ottawa. Fletcher will be remembered as a kind and caring man who loved, supported and cared for his family throughout his life. He was an extreme KC Royals and K-State sports fan. Fletcher was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and loved traveling to the Caribbean and Florida Keys. The family suggests memorial contributions to University of Kansas Medical Center c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Fletcher’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com