Raymond E. Simmerson

Raymond “Earl” Simmerson, 72, of Sanford passed away Wednesday May 4, 2016. The family will receive friends in the Colonnade of First Presbyterian Church at 10:00am Saturday, May 14, 2016.

Mr. Simmerson was born in Elizabeth City, NC, son of the late Raymond Simmerson and Dorothy Weaver Simmerson. His family moved to Sanford when Earl was in the 9th grade. He attended UNC and graduated from Campbell University and was a Veteran of the US Army. Earl’s career began with the US Information Service and later worked for the State Department in Foreign Services. His work with the State Dept. took him many Embassy’s around the world. Some of which include the Soviet Union, Cameroon, Morocco, Zaire, Seoul, Korea and Paris. After his retirement in 2001 Earl and family returned to his home in Sanford.

Mr. Simmerson is survived by his wife Linda Heffley Simmerson; two daughters, Cara Chambers, and husband Sean of Cheyenne, WY, and Jennifer Boyle of Sanford; a brother, Doug Simmerson of Hilton Head, SC; two grandchildren, Charlotte Chambers and Max Chambers; mother in law, Frances Heffley.

Memorial contributions can be made to the National MS Society, 3101 Industrial Drive, Suite 210, Raleigh, NC 27609.