By Paige Nash
Jon Simmons completed his 7-year-long battle with cancer and went to be home with the Lord on Wednesday, July 6.
A lot of people use the term “lost” when mentioning someone who has passed away from cancer or a long-term illness. They will say, “so and so lost their battle with cancer.” I cannot say that Jon lost anything. If anything, he did quite the opposite.
He gained. Over the course of his cancer journey, he gained 3 daughters and a son, after he and his wife married off four of their children, and with that he gained a few wonderful grandchildren.
He gained a platform to help others. He became a nurse in 2012 and began working in the emergency room at Minden Medical Center right away. He cared for the sick in the community even in the midst of his own battle. Jon already had a caring heart, dedicating his time and energy to helping others feel better while working at the hospital, but through his journey he found that was able to more specifically help other patients facing a similar battle to his own.
“It’s been amazing to hear of all the lives that my dad has touched through his battle with cancer, how many people he motivated and encouraged to keep fighting their battles when he was fighting one himself,” said Simmon’s son, Andrew.
Jon always said he was thankful that God was able to use him this way. That God was able to use him as a stepping stone to minister and encourage others during the fight of their lives.
And Thursday, Jon gained the ultimate gift, the free gift of God, the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jon’s loved ones are feeling the loss. They have lost a husband, a father, a Pop, a son, a brother, a dedicated nurse, a mentor, a friend, an all-around great man and a true fighter.
Jon spent a lot of his adult life fighting. He fought for his country, serving in both the Air Force and Army Reserve, he fought for his life, and he fought for the lives of others. Now he is done fighting and is getting some much deserved and well-earned rest.
He touched the lives of so many during his time here on Earth and for the people who were lucky enough to know and love him, the loss of his light will surely be felt for the days to come, but perhaps it is not a total loss after all.
Andrew said, “I lost my best friend, my kids lost their Pops, but I do know that a lot of people gained a guardian angel.”
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