Mary Alice Sims

Mary Alice Sims, age 79, of Benton; passed away at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, January 23, 2022, at her daughter’s home in Whittington.

Celebration of Life Services will be held, at a future date.

Cremation arrangements are with the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Mary Alice was born on October 12, 1942, the daughter of Herman Jones and Ada Pearl (Kelley) Jones. She married Henry Edwin “Sunny” Sims on September 2, 1962, and he preceded her in death on June 17, 2011.

She was well known throughout the community. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Having worked as a schoolteacher with Christopher Elementary School, a substitute teacher at Benton High School and Benton Grade School, Librarian at Rend Lake College, and formerly worked as a supervisor for homes with the Developedly Disabled.           

Mary Alice enjoyed people, and this was shown through her dedication and involvement with the local Girl Scouts. She was a Gold Member of the Girl Scouts, and through dedication and involvement as a Girl Scout volunteer; she received the Girl Scouts Life-Time Achievement Award; of which she was immensely proud.

Before her health declined, she attended the Palestine Baptist Church, was an active member of the Franklin County Historical Society, former Board Member with the Benton Public Library.

Mary Alice enjoyed going to Celtic Festivals, Astrology, Genealogy, attending Active Day in Marion, and enjoyed flower gardening.

She is survived by a daughter Jennifer Sims and husband Jeff George of Whittington; a son Kelley Sims and wife Ginger Farmer-Sims of Christopher; two grandsons: Joshua George and Justin Wagoner; a brother G.W. Jones of Benton; and a niece Chy Ann Jones of Carterville.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and a brother Paul Jones.

Memorial contributions in memory of Mary Alice Sims, may be made to the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, and will be accepted at the Leffler Funeral Home.

To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Mary Alice, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.