Phyllis A. (keezer) Simmons

Plaistow, NH: Phyllis A. (Keezer) Simmons, 83, a longtime resident of Plaistow and former teacher at the Pollard School, died on January 26, 2016 at the Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill.

Born in Haverhill, MA and raised in Middlebury, VT, daughter of the late Roy and C. Lucille (Landman) Keezer, she graduated from Middlebury High School with the Class of 1950. Mrs. Simmons went on to receive her Bachelor of Science Degree in Bio-Chemistry from Middlebury College in 1954.

Mrs. Simmons was first employed at Harvard Medical School as a research assistant until her marriage at which time she changed her career to become an educator. She received her Teaching Certificate from the University of New Hampshire and was named a Second Grade teacher at the Pollard School in Plaistow in 1967. In 1980 until her retirement in 1996, Mrs. Simmons served as a Fourth Grade teacher at the school. During her tenure as a teacher, she served as a coach for Odyssey of the Mind and as an advisor of the Pollard School Ski Club. She also served on the Curriculum Development Committee and as a Past President of the Retired Teachers' Association.

In her later years, Mrs. Simmons worked as a Sale Associate at Cherry and Webb, as a receptionist at Hampstead Hospital until 2012, and for many years at the Commons Cents Variety Store in Plaistow.

A longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Plaistow, she served as a member of the Diaconate from 1980 to 1986 and was a longtime volunteer for the Plaistow Food Bank and the First Baptist Church Crop Walk.

Listed in "Who's Who Among America's Teachers", Mrs. Simmons was named to the Middlebury High School Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Woman of the Year Award from the Business and Professionals Women's Club in 1984. In 2015, Mrs. Simmons received the Plaistow Women in Leadership Award. An accomplished pianist and avid skier, she loved the theatre, the Boston Red Sox, and the New England Patriots.

She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her daughter and son-in-law, Lorice A. "Lori" and Ben Sadewicz of Plaistow, her sons and daughter-in-law, Bradford and Connie Simmons of Whiting, VT, and Douglas Simmons of Plaistow, five grandchildren, Matthew, Phillip, and Kelsey Ann Sadewicz, and Tyler and Kristin Simmons, a great granddaughter, AvaLynn A. Catchings, one sister, Janice DeTour of Newton, NH, two nieces, and one nephew. She is also survived by many of her High School and College friends, with whom she faithfully attended all of her Class Reunions.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Saturday, January 30 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 122 Main Street, Plaistow, NH. Her funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. A reception in Colcord Hall will immediately follow the services. Please omit flowers. The family requests that donations be made a scholarship fund that will be established in Mrs. Simmons's name, c/o Timberlane Regional High School, to the attn. of Doreen Vasta, 36 Greenough Road, Plaistow, NH 03865. Arrangements are under the direction of Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main Street, Plaistow, NH. To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit our website, www.brooksidechapelfh.com.