Simmie Blease Stivender, Jr. born on August 26, 1937, to Simmie Blease Stivender, Sr. and Bernice Helen Garrick Stivender in Sebring, Florida. At a very young age, he was given to his grandparents, Martin C. and Cora Lee Whetstone Garrick, whom he knew as Mama and Daddy. Simmie was raised on their farm in Orangeburg, South Carolina along with their children still living at home. In 1945 his grandfather passed away due to a stroke. He was relocated to Charleston, S.C. He lived on Meeting Street, attended Bennett Elementary and Charleston High School, transferring to Murray Vocational to study in their electrical program. In 1954, he joined the United States Air Force, completing his tour of duty in December, 1958. While stationed at Kessler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, he visited relatives in Bogalusa, Louisiana and met his future wife, Kathleen Dutsch in June of 1955. After a whirlwind romance, they married on October 16, 1955. Simmie was then transferred overseas to France that same year and when he returned he was sent to Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. There he finished his tour of duty and in 1958 was honorably discharged. He returned to Bogalusa and worked out of IBEW Local 1077 for a short while. Then he moved his family to Houston and worked for Cameron Iron Works as a Maintenance Electrician out of IBEW Local 716 and later returned as an employee of Cameron Iron Works and later as an electrical supervisor. Simmie Studied Electrical Engineering at University of Houston and passed his Electrical Masters test in 1974. He left Cameron Iron Works and opened his own electrical contracting company which he operated for about 14 years. He went to work for Hickham Industries in LaPorte, Texas and started their Field Service Division repairing generators and gas turbines. Then he was employed by General Electric going through their Engineering School for gas turbines and generators in 1999. Simmie was a Master Mason, 50+ years, serving as Master of Oak Forest Lodge #1398 in Houston in 1974-75, also an affiliate member of Forest Lodge #19 in Huntsville, Texas. He conducted many Masonic Burial Services, including his wife’s father, Walter Preston Dutsch and also conducted all the Masonic Degrees for both of his sons. Preceded in death by his father, Simmie Blease Stivender, Sr., mother, Bernice Helen Garrick-Benton, his daughter-in-law Patricia (Patti) Switzer Stivender, whom he considered his daughter, brothers, Fred Blease Stivender, King Kurtis Stivender, Kennith Stivender, mother and father-in-law who loved him as their own son, Walter and Mary Lee Dutsch, brother-in-law Lewis Dumas, nephew, Jeffery Scott Hamilton. Survived by his wife Kathleen Dutsch Stivender, sons, Walter Eric Stivender, Houston, Errol Martin Stivender (Carolyn), El Dorado, Arkansas sisters-in-law Karen Dutsch Dumas, Judy Dutsch James (Jim) Grandson, Alec Nelson Stivender, Preston Taite Stivender, great grandson, Camden Taite Stivender, sister, Cheryl Ogle, Charleston S.C. Special nieces and nephews, Jarrett Hamilton, Randy and Mary Dumas. Services are Tuesday May 28, 2019 @ 2:00PM at First Baptist Church, Huntsville, Texas with visitation prior to services. Interment will be at Farris Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church of Huntsville, Texas or charity of your choice. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Simmie Blease Stivender Jr please visit our Sympathy Store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Simmie Blease Stivender Jr August 26 1937 May 24 2019.
Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home
Death notice for the town of: Willis, state: Texas