James Roy Simmons 1921-1943

 

 

Although not a relative, I found this story an interesting and educational genealogical research project.

 

After my Dad died last year, I was looking through some of his belongings.  It was a box of items collected by him, his mother, and his grandmother.  There were many pictures and newspaper clippings.  There were several clippings about an explosion in North Kansas City in 1943.  I wondered “what’s the connection?” 

 

I read the clippings which described the death of James R. Simmons in a steel barrel factory explosion.  Later I found another clipping.  It was an announcement for my Dad’s first marriage in 1942.  In attendance were the bride’s sister and a Mr James Simmons.

 

The articles said James, called Jimmy graduated in 1940 from Liberty High School in Liberty, Missouri.  That was my Dad’s class.  Jimmy was class president.  I wrote this article as a tribute to Jimmy and my Dad on a Liberty High School Memorial page on Facebook.

 

• The President of the Class of 1940 was James Roy Simmons.  “Jimmy” was Dad’s best man when Dad married his first wife in Nov 1942.  Jimmy had a paralyzed left leg from a childhood illness, wore a leg brace, and walked with a cane.  Interesting that Dad, the high school athlete, and his best man would have such a contrast.  Although Jimmy often was off balanced, he had powerful arm strength and was an excellent swimmer.  He lived with his family at 216 N Missouri St there in Liberty.  Jimmy worked as a clerk in North KC for J&L Steel plant, a company that made steel barrels on Iron Ave in Northtown.  On 1 May 1943, he was working the night shift when a neighboring business reported smoke coming from the plant.  Jimmy, another clerk, and a night watchman were the only ones working.  Jimmy went with the night watchman to investigate.  As they entered the factory, an enamelling oven exploded.  The watchman escaped but was burned badly.  The furious blaze that followed the explosion was fought by fire crews from all over the KC area.  Jimmy was found trapped under a handtruck of metal bars.  The fire had taken his life.  Another contrast for the two friends.  My Dad lived to be 90 and his good friend died at 23.  Just a couple days ago, April 18^th would have been Jimmy’s 92^nd birthday.  Dad always said the downtown Liberty fire was why he became a volunteer fireman, but I’m sure his friend Jimmy and the 1943 J&L incident had a lot to with it.
 

 

I found the 216 N Missouri St address from the 1940 census.  Jimmy lived with his parents Lee Roy and Zelma.  Roy was a bank cashier.  Jimmy’s 20 year old brother Frank also lived at home.  Frank was a bookkeeper for a retail auto supply.

 

All four are buried in the Missouri City Cemetery, Missouri City, Clay county, Missouri.  Lee Roy died in 1973, Zelma (Sparkman) in 1983, and brother Frank in 2001. (findagrave.com)