Rose Marie (Simmons) Lea, 87, of Kirksville, Missouri, left this life for her eternal heavenly home on Monday, August 12, 2024 at Loch Haven Nursing Home where she resided for the past several weeks.

Rose was born July 9, 1937 and was the daughter of William Wardel and Alice Fern (Hayward) Simmons. She graduated from Macon High School in May of 1955.

On March 17, 1957 she was united in marriage to Dale O. Lea in Macon, Missouri and to this union three daughters were born: Cindy Lea of Kirksville, MO, Sandra (Bill) Walker of Huntsville, MO, and Sarah (Joe) Fazio of Topeka, KS.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, seven sisters: Irma Lou Fleming, Mary Jo Parrish, Martha Mae Jacobs, Barbara Sue Blodgett, Sharon Kay Oberto, Betty Alice Sharier, Rae Ann Smith and one grandson, Chris Walker.

Rose is survived by her three daughters Cindy, Sandra, and Sarah: two brothers: William (Dixie) Simmons of Mobile, AL and Rex Simmons of Lampasas, TX and three grandchildren: Racheal Walker of Huntsville, MO, Jacob (Jessica) Walker of Ashland, MO and KyLea Fazio of Birmingham, AL, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Rose was employed with Wal-Mart in Kirksville for thirty-seven years prior to her retirement in 2017.

Rose was a member of Hamilton Street Baptist Church of Kirksville.

Public visitation will be held Friday, August 16, 2024 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 17, 2024 in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home with Doug Athon presiding. Interment will follow at Mt. Tabor Cemetery in Atlanta, Missouri.

Memorial donations in memory of Rose may be made to Mt. Tabor Cemetery or to the Hamilton Street Baptist Church and may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.