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.
To order a DVD copy of this video memorial, please contact our funeral home at + 18707413113.
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15 Condolence(s)
Gene and Nancy Rose
Sunday, November 26, 2023
Gerald was the best of neighbors for eleven years while our children were growing up.
His dog had a litter of puppies and somehow those puppies would get into our backyard over the chain link fence just before the boys got off the school bus. Gerald was very thankful to the boys when the boys return the puppies most everyday. Love and prayers for Norma and the kids.
Cathy Schoubroeck
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Sorry to hear about Gerald. My thoughts and prayers are with Norma, the family and many friends who will miss him dearly.
Donna Braymer
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Thank you for always being so friendly and having a friendly smile.
Laura & Shannon Snow
Monday, October 30, 2023
Shannon and I are so sorry to hear this. We both sure loved working with Gerald at Hudsons. He was a good man and will be missed. Love and comfort to your family.
Eddie Fugatt
Monday, October 30, 2023
I am sorry to hear this news. A wonderful man and family.
Bobby and Becky Howard
Sunday, October 29, 2023
Dear Family,
Gerald was a great guy, just say him recently at his favorite DQ, and he wanted to talk sports, he will be sorely missed!!
Bobby and Becky Howard
Jack D Witty
Sunday, October 29, 2023
Kyle & Elisabeth Strain
Sunday, October 29, 2023
George R. Sisco
Saturday, October 28, 2023
My thoughts and prayers are with all the family of Gerald Dennis Sims. He and my dad, Russell Sisco, were second cousins. My grandmother (Lavonia Adeline 'Vonie' Sims Sisco was a first cousin to Fred Monroe 'Freddie' Sims. I do not remember ever meeting any of the Fred Sisco family. I am sure that my dad knew your family. He lived in Delmar, just down the mountain from Compton, AR. I wish that I had known Gerald, for the obituary states that he was a most pleasant person to be with. I have a daughter that lives in Little Rock where she is the Education Director at the Old State House Museum. She would love to meet you folks at some time if you should ever go to the museum. Gerald was a year older than me and I wish that I would have had the pleasure of meeting him when we were both kids. My family visited the Willie Sisco family at Delmar many times as I was growing up. I have some very precious memories of the fun I had in that beautiful part of Arkansas. I grew up in Marshall, AR. I still miss living in the beautiful Ozark Mountains. My dad was an Undertaker and Funeral Director for 3 funeral homes (Marshall, Clinton and Mountain View). He died several years ago, but he and my mother spent many times at the annual Decoration Day celebration in the Plumlee Cemetery.
Again, your entire family is in my prayers. Maybe someday I will get to meet some of you. God be with all of you!!
George R. Sisco
Dustin Reese
Saturday, October 28, 2023
I started at Hudsons just out of high school in 2001. Gerald trained and taught me his craft of cutting and smoking meats that led me to a career there for almost 17 years. One of my great friends and will be sorely missed. Norma we love you!
Lisa Sparrow
Saturday, October 28, 2023
One of the finest men to walk this Earth. Sending Prayers and Love to the Sims Family.
Kevin Campbell
Friday, October 27, 2023
Gerald was a giver to his Lord, family, friends…..and referees making wrong calls against his Goblins! His footprint will be treasured.
Steve & Leesha McLeod
Friday, October 27, 2023
The world lost a great man, but Heaven gained one.
Bill and Bella Darnell
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Hurley and Betty Young
Thursday, October 26, 2023
So sorry for your loss
Love and prayers.