Pamela Simons

Pamela Counseller Simons, 92, died at home in Lawrence on Sunday, April 6.

Mrs. Simons is remembered as a generous, even-handed lady with eclectic interests who never said no to any cause, who supported other women in their endeavors, and who opened her home graciously and often to study groups, friends and business visitors until age and health issues began to curtail her activities.

Her family and her faith (she was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church) were at the center of her life, and friends recall her frequent conversational references to “the Good Book,” as she called the Bible.

Mrs. Simons was born August 31, 1932, in Rochester, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Virgil S. Counseller, and during her own surgeries and illnesses, friends say, she had “a real appreciation for medicine because her dad was a great surgeon. She was a real trouper.”

She was educated at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Natick, Massachusetts, at Brownmoor School, Scottsdale, Arizona, and at the University of Arizona, Tucson. She was a member of Delta Gamma sorority at the university.

She and her husband, Dolph C. Simons, Jr. who was the long-time editor and publisher of the Lawrence Journal-World, were married February 7, 1952 in Rochester, Minnesota, during a fierce snow storm. The wedding took place at Calvary Episcopal Church, nestled beside the Mayo Clinic where her father was the head of Women’s Surgery.  A reception followed at the home of her parents. After the wedding, they began their marriage with a road trip to California, as Dolph continued his military service. They traveled together around the United States and the globe and were active participants in Lawrence, Kansas University and Kansas City social activities.

During her youth, Mrs. Simons was an avid horse-back rider, and she continued that interest during her years in Lawrence. Close friend Margey Frederick recalled that when the Fredericks established a rural Lawrence home, Mrs. Simons immediately began to speculate about getting a horse to board there.

Mrs. Simons often was acting secretary for the company’s board of directors, and she played an influential role, usually behind-the-scenes, in many of the company’s and family’s philanthropic endeavors. The family provided funding for the emergency room at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and generously supported the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Mrs. Simons also inspired and motivated family and corporate gifts to and participation in the arts, but never wanted to be in the limelight.

For years she was an active member of Chapter A-Z of PEO in Lawrence and was an emeritus member of the advisory board of the Hall Center for the Humanities at Kansas University.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, David Counseller; two sisters, Virginia Broders and Cynthia Octigan, and a granddaughter, Jennifer Simons.

Surviving, in addition to her husband, are four children: Pamela Simons, Fort Collins, Colorado; Linda de Menocal (widow of Daniel C.), Bedford, New York; Dolph Simons III (married to the former Lisa McCray), and Dan Simons (married to the former Trisha Malson), both of Lawrence.

She also is survived by eight grandchildren:  Emily de Menocal Dixon (married to Stefan Dixon), Bethesda, Maryland;  Crosby de Menocal (married to Courtney Pfortmiller), Lenexa;  Jane de Menocal, Lenexa;  Katherine Simons, Lawrence;  Elizabeth Simons, Charleston, South Carolina;  Whitney Simons, Dallas, Texas;  Briahn Simons, Paris, France;  Dan Simons Jr.,  Lawrence; and one great-grandchild, Eloise Collins Dixon, Bethesda, Maryland.  Those grandchildren, Mrs. Frederick recalled, “made her sparkle.”

A Church Service is pending.