Clarence LaVaughn Simmons passed from this life to be with the Lord on May 26, 2023, at the age of 77 surrounded by his family. LaVaughn was born in Durant, Okla., to Clarence Thomas Simmons and Dona Jewel Perkins Simmons on August 26, 1945. 
He grew up a fun-loving, hard-working boy, one who was always taking things apart to see how they work, including the family TV or a beach ball on the way home his mom had just bought to see what was on the inside. LaVaughn served in Vietnam, stationed in Thailand, where he earned honors for marksmanship.
When he returned, he met the love of his life Freida May Vanbebber and they married on February 20, 1971, at Lake Murray Chapel in Ardmore. Their life was full of love, joy and three beautiful fun-loving, quick-witted spoiled daughters. He loved his girls so very much and he loved spending time with his family always having a quick-witted comment to keep everyone laughing. Their home was always filled with laughter and love. He loved to spoil all his girls from the sneaky little grin he’d have on his face when he’d sneak mom’s favorite food in the shopping cart to spending a week in the cold snow to build his kids a life size igloo.
He also loved to garden, having acres and acres of garden. He loved to mow and tinker with his tractor, that only he was able to start, no one else could do the little tricks to get it to start. LaVaughn worked as a salesman for G&W Bodyworks for most of his career before he retired to be a full time stay at home grandpa. He loved his kids, grands and great grands so much. He spent many hours building, tinkering and playing with things for the kids.
LaVaughn is preceded in death by his father, Clarence Simmons and his mother, Dona Simmons.
He is survived by his devoted loving wife of 52 years, Freida; three daughters – Kathy and husband Ryan Mitchell of Clayton, Okla., Melissa and husband Steven Covington of Silo, Okla., Alecia Jarvis of Mead, Okla.; grandchildren: Hunter Mitchell and wife Hannah of Clayton, Okla., Shannon Covington of Silo, Okla., Kevin Covington and fiancé Kaleigh Cummins of Silo, Okla., Kelsey and husband Tyler Burton of Clayton, Okla., Taylor Mitchell of Clayton, Okla., Braydon Mitchell of Clayton, Okla., Charleigh Jarvis of Mead, Okla., Maverick Jarvis of Mead, Okla.; great-grands: Addy, Beau and Reese Mitchell of Clayton, Okla., Kasen and Kasey Burton of Clayton, Okla.; brothers: Marvin Simmons of McAlester, Okla., Frank Simmons and wife Sherry of Silo, Okla., and a host of family and friends and his cat, Tiger. He was greatly loved and will be so deeply missed by everyone who knew him, he was an amazing person. 
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at Brown’s Funeral Service Chapel. Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery with Ryan Mitchell, Steven Covington, Hunter Mitchell, Shannon Covington, Kevin Covington, and Tyler Burton serving as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends at the Funeral Home on Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m.
Arrangements under the direction of Brown’s Funeral Home.
