Carolyn Sue Simmons, 67, died Monday, July 13, 2015 of natural causes in her home. A Celebration gathering will be Sunday, July 19, 2015 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre, located at 2121 Bowling Street SW. Carol was born on July 27, 1947 in Ottumwa Iowa. She was blessed with a large family. Her siblings: John Woodard of Pasadena, California, Calvin (Dee) Woodard of Monticello, Jeff (Lana) Woodard of Big Rock, Victoria(Al) Mathews of Austin, Texas, Chris Woodard of Palmer, Alaska, Debra (Charles) Castle of Soucier, Mississippi, C.J. (Mike) Warner of Anamosa, Lester Woodard of Naples, Florida,, Joe (Penny) Woodard of Anamosa, preceded in death by a brother Charles Paul Jr and Sister Susan Marie. She was also preceded in death by her mother Barbara Woodard and grandparents Eva and Lester Simmons and a favorite loyal dog, Goldie. She had four children, Douglas (Thomasina) Simmons of Eva Beach, Hawaii , David (Miranda) Simmons of Cedar Rapids, Deniece Smith of Cedar.Rapids and Damon (Nichelle) Smith of Cedar Rapids. Grand children: Brandon, Justin, Dorlisa, Deontee', Keonna, Bryce, Davion, Jordan, Kyra, Croix, Charli and Stone. Her Great grand children: Hayden, Grayson, Julian, Kayleigh, Nathaniel and Jordan. She had numerous nieces and nephews too. Carolyn was a loving mother and care giver. Besides raising her children, over the years she also helped look after step children, grand kids and great grand kids with loving care. In recent years she took care of and spend much of her time with her grand kids and great grand kids. She loved to travel and loved to dance. She vacationed with her kids all across the US when they were young, visiting nearly every state west of the Mississippi in the 1970's and 1980's. She loved to laugh, she loved music, she loved her friends, she loved her family. She loved wolves and images of wolves and she embodied the spirit of the wolf. It is in the wolf's nature to be kind gentle and loving. However when it came to matters of family friends or the heart, wolves are fierce , powerful and relentless. That was Carolyn. She had many close friends over the years, too many to mention all by name, but thank you to all of her friends who loved her and cared for her over the years. I would like to say a special thank you to Heidi who helped us get started in this process when we were all grieving and lost. She had a special place in her life for her best friend Goldie, who preceded her in death. One of her wishes was to have her cremains joined worn jets at her passing. Another wish was to have her remains scattered in select places in Hawaii where she loved to visit. We will miss her, our Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Aunt, and friend. Now you have gone into the long goodnight and the light has left your eyes, you will still be with us, your light will be in our hearts.