Melvin Ross Sims was born December 4, 1932 in Whitewright to William Martin Sims and Mittie Celestia Deaton Sims. He married Dana Dell Akin on May 18, 1968 in Garland, Texas. He died Saturday, September 20, 2014 at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas at the age of 81. He was a resident of Garland, Texas.
Melvin Sims was a man of faith. He loved to share his faith with others and took advantage of opportunities to witness to others; even strangers. He worked as a carpenter all his life. He loved to make things with his hands. He had a true passion for woodwork that started when he was a very young boy. As a young boy he made a tractor to play with out of a wooden thread spool and bobby pins.
As a young male and on into his adulthood he worked outside in heavy construction. He built water treatment plants and he even designed the plans and added onto his home to accommodate for his growing family. He retired from work at the age of 74.
He enjoyed studying his bible, spending time with his family, spending time outside, and making friends with the local neighborhood wild animals. He loved to watch the squirrels and the different kinds of birds. He was an amazing man and will truly be missed by all who knew him. His family and friends look forward to seeing him again in heaven.
He is survived by wife, Dana Sims of Garland; daughter, Judy Hunnicutt and husband William of Whitewright; daughter, Rachel Nelson and husband Mike of Pottsboro; daughter, Linda Hawkins and husband Butch of Whitesboro; daughter, Connie Knight of Austin; son, Chris Sims and wife Amy of Plano; daughter, Renna Pauig and husband Pablo of Simi Valley, California; daughter, Cathy Leyva of Garland; 24 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandson, Hunter Michael; sister, Ella Mae Webb of Garland; sister, Mary Sue Franklin of Garland. He was preceded in death by parents, William and Celestia Sims; brothers, Argus and Wilmer Tee Sims; son, Michael Roy Sims; grandson, Jeffrey Orsak; granddaughter, Angela Michelle Nelson.
Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM, Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel, Whitewright, Texas. Officiating the service will be Rev. Houston Garner. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Whitewright, Texas.
Family and friends are invited to the funeral home at their convenience on Tuesday to pay their respects and to sign the register book. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 from 6-8pm at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, Whitewright, Texas.