of Harrison, AR

February 8, 1938 - October 24, 2023

Gerald Dennis Sims, age 85, passed from this earth to meet his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, after struggling with many battles with cancer during his last 15 years. Gerald was born on February 8, 1938, to Fred and Opal Sims of Compton, Arkansas. He grew up on a farm near Compton, Arkansas, where he attended Compton schools until the eighth grade, then graduated from Harrison High School in 1955, where he was voted "Friendliest Kid" in his senior class. Gerald was also a member of the FFA where he learned to judge cuts and qualities of meats.

After graduation, Gerald went to work at Hudson's Grocery Store as a butcher, which kick-started his career as a butcher for over 30 years. He also worked at Harps for 4 years as a butcher and before returning to Hudson's, he worked for Garrison Motor Freight for 10 years. When he returned to Hudson's in 1978, they soon added a smokehouse where he would smoke all kinds of meats and quickly became known by his family and close friends as the "BBQ King". He spent many weeks before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays sleeping at the store so he could check on the meats overnight and make sure they were cooking just right. He retired from Hudson's in 2001 after having bypass heart surgery.

While working at Hudson's in 1956, he met the love of his life, Norma Steen. After a year and a half of dating Gerald proposed to Norma in the meat cooler at Hudson's. Gerald and Norma had two children, Rhonda Lynnette and Stephen Douglas. Gerald and Norma have resided in Harrison all their lives and recently celebrated 65 years of marriage on May 27, 2023.

Over the years, Gerald enjoyed all kinds of outdoor activities including bird hunting, camping, water-skiing, fishing, raising cattle, helping make sorghum molasses with his best buddy, Walker Deakins, and especially gardening. Even this year he continued to produce tomatoes that he was very proud of. During his retirement years, he became very crafty and began making birdhouses out of old cowboy boots. He made many to give away to his friends and family. He even sold a few. He also worked part-time for Neighbor's Mill where he delivered bread to surrounding areas. He has always loved making new friends and this gave him the opportunity to continue. He also loved supporting his wife as she continued to work and tell people about the lovely state of Arkansas. They traveled to many places in The Natural State enjoying the outdoors and all that Arkansas had to offer. He loved visiting his children and spending time with them at their homes.

He has always been an avid Goblin fan. He watched his own children, grandchildren, and close friends' children and grandchildren play many sports over the years. Even though some of his own grandchildren were not Goblins, he would wear the appropriate mascot t-shirt to whatever sporting event or activity he attended with pride. He loved supporting whatever they were doing. He also loved the Razorbacks and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Gerald was an active member of Hilltop Church of Christ. The same church his parents raised him in and where he raised his children. Gerald never met a stranger and loved talking to people wherever he went. He loved telling jokes and making people laugh. He was a kind and gentle soul and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Opal Sims, and his brother, Dean Sims.

Gerald is survived by his loving wife, Norma; his sister, Ann Warren of Harrison; his children and their spouses, Steve and Angela Sims of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Rhonda and Bobby Eubanks of Sherwood, Arkansas; seven
grandchildren, Dalton Sims, Hunter Sims (Whitney), Bailey Eubanks, Blair Gray (Micah), Britt Hodge, Brian Hodge (Chanceree), Jordan Hodge (Bethany), and two great-grandchildren, Claire Marie Hodge and Berkley Jennifer Sims.


Visitation was on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at Roller-Christeson Funeral Home.

The funeral service was on Monday, October 30, 2023, at Roller-Christeson Funeral Home.

The interment was in Maplewood Cemetery.

Gerald's grandchildren serveed as pallbearers.

Honorary pallbearers were the men of Hilltop Church of Christ.


In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Hilltop Church of Christ, HC 33 Box 106, Compton, AR 72624, or Hospice of the Hills, PO Box 2020, Harrison, AR 72602-2020.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Christeson Funeral Home
519 North Spring Street
Harrison, AR  72601
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com