Travis Simmons

Travis Jere (T.J.) Simmons, 43, died suddenly at his home on November 11, 2014 after years of declining health due to polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type l, a rare autosomal recessive disorder. He was born October 22, 1971 in Casper to John and Lucinda (Annis) Simmons. He attended Park Elementary, Dean Morgan, Centennial Junior High, and graduated from Natrona County High School with the class of 1991. T.J. attended Boyd Avenue Baptist Church from birth into his late teens. As a teenager he started working in restaurants and cooked at quite a few eating establishments over the years. T.J. liked football all his life; his favorite team was the Dallas Cowboys. In grade school he played Midget Football for one season and quickly learned he wasn't going to be a player. Music was his passion, playing the organ by ear when he was five after listening to his dad's playing. He played drum, starting in grade school and was a member of Natrona County High's marching band and orchestra. At age 11, he was a cadet in the "B" Corps of the Casper Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps. At 14 he joined the "A" Corps performing across the United States and Canada. The Corps did a standstill performance in Cheyenne for the first President Bush and marched in the inaugural parade for President Clinton in Washington, D.C. In later years, T.J. was drummer for a couple of local bands, Wyoming Thunder and Still Smokin'. T.J. had a great sense of humor and always had a new joke to tell. He was a charmer with everyone. Walking home from the bus stop, school girls would like up to kiss him when he reached the driveway. On the other hand he could drive people crazy with his drumming using sticks, pencils or even his fingers to tip out a beat on tabletops, car dashboards, church pews and, of course, his many drums and cymbals. T. J. was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents and his oldest brother, Lynn Simmons, as well as two uncles, Richard Annis and David Annis as well as two first cousins, Mark Ayers and Pamela Pullin. Besides his parents, he is survived by his daughter, Ciara Simmons of Casper, older sister, Janet Dominguez of Albuquerque, New Mexico and his older brother, Norman Simmons of Casper. He is also survived by his older brother, Norman Simmons of Casper, also numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and his many friends. Services were held Friday, November 21, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Boyd Avenue Baptist Church with Pastor Keith Evans and Pastor Quinn Williams.