Christopher Shane Simmons

I remember the first time that I heard the name Chris Simmons. I was in Marjorie Adam's office and she was telling me about her friend, Chris, that lived inLouisville at the time. I could tell that he must have been a character by the way she described him and she was laughing to the point of tears. She told me of her great admiration and love for him. A few weeks later, another nurse- Nancy Toole, approached me and was telling me of a great friend of hers named Chris . At that time I had an Assistant's position open in my department and Nancy said that HE was the guy for the job ! Not thinking much about it I asked her to call him and have him apply. Several applicants had applied, but no interviews had been conducted. I actually had someone in mind for the position from the past. My other assistant, Shavon, scheduled a series of interviews so we could fill the position and start the training process. I remember my first impression of Chris upon our introduction.... I thought, " he is WAY too much for this small town !" He was thin built, attractive, beautiful bright smile, perfect black hair ( ton of product), and ABSOLUTELY LIT THE ROOM with his laughter and enthusiasm. After his interview, I told Shavon, "HE is something !" I continued for a few days talking to the first applicant, then out of nowhere, I called Chris and said, "You have the job !!! Be here Monday at 8 a.m.." That is when a most beautiful friendship began. Chris was definately a great asset to Green Valley, but an even more BEAUTIFUL FRIEND to everyone he met !! The residents loved him so much and depended on him for a daily dose of FLAMBOYANCE !!! He made being flamboyant so damn cool and appreciated. He was everyone's best-friend, BOO as he called it. He had a knack for making everyone feel so loved, special, important, and appreciated. He left small notes and e-mails that brightened the days of all around him. He put a screensaver on Kathy McClure's computer entitled " her BOO"!!!!She loves it. He always e-mailed Shavon sweet notes of encouragement. He would hand write notes of appreciation, friendship, and admiration, and leave them everywhere to be found at a later time in order to bring needed smiles and feelings of being loved. He aggrivated our Adminstrator, Alan Wade, to no end, but really liked him. As I said, Chris made us all feel special and so loved. He was mischievious and quite the jokester. He would constantly banter with his Boo, Miss Ada. They would fight, then he would set her hair and do her make-up. They loved each other very much. As soon as the hair and make-up was complete, then he and Miss Ada would be screaming at each other. The day she passed, he sat in the office and cried. She was his Boo. Chris was terrified of women's BOOBS !! Connie Manley would tease him constantly about it. He would fuss to no end at her. We would all be working in a group and Kathy McClure would accidentally touch his back with her "chest" and he would start yelling !!!!! He would cause quite the stir while stomping away accusing us of being HATERS because we would all be laughing, then he would turn around and- with the most beautiful smile- say, " I love you all " then disappear into the facility to spread his cheer and tattle to the residents about what we had done to him. He would play Rook with Miss Alma, Miss Sue, and me. He would bid on nothing and constantly caused himself and MIss Sue to lose the game, but they didn't care. It was not about who won or lost, but all about the FUN of the game. The ladies are heartbroke at his passing as he MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE TO EVERYONE HE ENCOUNTERED !!!! Chris and I became inseparable. I loved him and looked forward to seeing his smiling face each morning, usually with his cell phone attached. I honestly think that he was the heartbeat of our facility. The facility froze solid the morning that Alan informed us of his passing. Chris and I were best friends !!!! He was very close to so many and LOVED his Boos endlessly. Chris confided in me alot. Although, Kathy and Shavon think that he fussed about me alot (jokingly) He would say each morning, " best check the waters and see what mood Kathy is in today !" and " Jesse, Chris also had a very troubled side that he is SO FREE OF NOW !!!! He told me stories of how a certain person in his life, that should have loved him unconditionally, had absolutely ripped the heart from his soul !!!! "This person" had physcally, verbally, and emotionally beat him so bad !!!!! On the Friday of the tornadoes, he and I had a very long lunch at the Lodge. He had asked, in advance, if I would have a long lunch as he needed to tell me some things. We spent almost two hours there that day. We barely ate. He told me stories of being calleda N loving queer ! He was told that we would be better off dead !! I will never forget that converation !!!!!His deepest, most inner soul was devasted !!! He had told me these stories across for over an hour, then he extended his hand across the table without another word being said. I laid my hand in his and realized that this most beautiful man/ best friend/ human being/ was truly hurting so terribly bad, and we held hands tighter for at least thirty minutes. Tears dripped non-stop from his trembling chin as he stared at the powerful storm clouds outside the windows. I could not take away his pain. I could only comfort him and love him, as all his best-friends did. We all loved Chris Simmons just exactly the way that GOD had made him. None of us would have changed one thing about that most beautiful, vibrant, loving man!!!!!! I sincerly hope that the person that devastated him so viciously and hurt him so extremely with their words of HATE can look at themself in the mirror daily. He was such wonderful friend, SO BEAUTIFUL, and SO LOVED !!!! I speak on behalf of myself, and All his friends, that NO ONE on earth has the right to ATTACK something so incredibly beautiful for being UNIQUE !!!! And, that is what he was -- UNIQUE, LOVED, RESPECTED, APPRECIATED, HANDSOME, and CHRIS SIMMONS was OUR FRIEND !!! Chris, we love you, we miss you, and we wish we could rewind time and stand united against those that hurt you. But, you now are out of pain and harm's way. You are our angel ! You now have your wings, so fly, fly, fly as far and as fast as you can as you can never be hurt again. You, Chris Simmons, are our friend and we love you. With the greatest respect, your BOOS !!!! Jes, Shavon, Kathy, Connie, Marjorie, Jenn, Repunzel, Miss Sue, Miss Alma, and hundreds and hundreds not mentioned. You left us way too soon......

I have only known Chris for 8 years durning that time we became very close.  As I have read all of the comments on FB it is so clear that he meant so much to everyone that he came in contact with.  He was the best friend that any of us could had asked for.  In every FB comment or just talking to others about him there was one thing that never changed the smile that he brought to everyones face.  If you were down he would say something or do something that would put that smile back and even when your day was great he made it better just by being himself.  If there was something he could do to help he was there, if he couldn't help with something he didn't just forget and go on he would find you or call you to find out if everything had worked out.  As we all returned to work today something became so clear something that I had already realized that Chris had brought sunshine to my job and to each and everyone us there including our residents.  He loved to do beauty shop their hair, nails and makeup how they loved Chris to get them all fixed up Jesse even tried to do that and they asked for Chris because he did it better.  Yesterday Jesse wouldn't let me and Shavon drive he wanted us to ride with him, we got in ol Margret and Chris I want you to know that she was going 50 down 11th street  I bet she never did that with you and frankly it was scarey.  But to my surprize she didn't even cough she went with us to say goodbye for now to the greatest friend that I could have ever asked for.   Miss you My Buddy!

Chris and I grew up in Ghent together all of our lives. We would always go around at nights knocking on peoples doors and then running LOAO! I went through school with him and then after a short while we worked together at DA VALLEY in restorative, as an aid on the floor, and in activities. Work def. will not be the same anymore. Chris was true, real, and down to earth. He always put a smile on my face. I remember when we pulled that prank on Jesse making him think my water broke. (Priceless) Or how about the time we skipped out on Jesse at work and went shopping (for the residents alan) lol. We could sit behind closed doors and just spill out our emotions and troubles to each other and then just make each other laugh our butts off. We as a team could make each others day better. Whenever we needed anything we always helped each other out. It was nice having a friend like him that I knew I could depend on. He was always worried about others more than himself. Some of the things he could come up with off the top of his head would make you roll on the floor laughing. So many memories to live by now. I'm very blessed to have been a part of his life. He was without a doubt one of a kind and there's nobody that can ever replace him. I love you Christopher!  

I met Chris 7 1/2 years ago when I became Administrator at Green Valley.  During this short time, Chris was a CNA, Staff Scheduler, and Activities Assistant for the facility.  My first year at Green Valley, we recognized him as Employee of the Year at our annual Christmas party.  Chris made me laugh every day.  He was so insecure, thinking he would be fired at any moment.  He made me talk to him everyday, even when the pressures of work had me in a bad mood.  Our residents absolutely loved the guy.  No one was a stranger to Chris, and he made everyone's day a bit more enjoyable.  Everyone at Green Valley will miss you, Chris.  You were truly loved by all.

Alan

I remember when Chris came as a Co-Ed student from the Carroll County High School to Green Valley Health & Rehab, with his straight cut black hair and his geeky glasses. I saw first-hand how he transformed from a geeky high school student into a grown man. The smile he put on the face of our seniors and staff was priceless. He never showed to the staff or residents he was having a bad day  (though I am sure he sometimes did).  As I was moving on to a diffrent job, we always kept in touch with each other on myspace or facebook.  (He sure put a smiile on my face reading his posts).  I had not seen him in a few years when he came to my house with Mary, not realizing that he was the same Chris I had met in high school so many years ago.  We had so much fun just catching up that we stayed up most of the night.  (He sure could talk.)  We talked only a few weeks ago about how much we missed each other, and planned to get together soon.  It saddens my heart that we were not able to do so.  I am sure Chris will be missed by so many, and in my heart he will keep a specal place forever. Love Susy