Suzy Christine E. Simons

Suzy Christine Eggers Simons left this world suddenly and unexpectedly on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 3:00 a.m. at Virtua Hospital in Marlton, NJ. She had just celebrated her 90th birthday on the Friday before her passing. Christine was born at home in a small rural community known as Beaver Dam, NC but was raised predominately in Boone—a magnificent little town nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina—along with her siblings, Morris, Stacy and Margaret. Her parents, Stacy Clyde Eggers, Sr. and Nora South Eggers, were both teachers at one time, so it was no surprise that Christine, as her family called her, graduated from Appalachian Training College, located in Boone, with a B.S. degree in elementary education. Filled with a sense of adventure, Christine left Boone in 1943 to take a teaching position in Penderlea, a little town near the coast of North Carolina, where she taught for two years. It was during that time that Christine, born with no middle name, added Suzy to her birth certificate making Christine her middle name and Suzy her first. It was also where she fell in love with the sea and climbed to the top of Cape Lookout Lighthouse. On June 12, 1945, Suzy joined the Coast Guard as part of FDR’s Women’s Reserve Unit known as the SPARS. With World War II raging, the SPARS took care of duties stateside allowing the men to fight in combat overseas. Suzy did her military training at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland before serving at Sheep’s Head Bay, NY and later in Philadelphia, PA. Suzy remembered vividly being in the historic mob in New York City’s Time Square on the day when the US claimed victory in the war. With the war over, Suzy was released from duty on May 31, 1946. However, Suzy maintained her love of the sun, ocean, beaches and lighthouses throughout her lifetime. In fact, Suzy spent many memorable times at North Myrtle Beach, SC with her sister Margaret, sister-in-law Mildred, and her daughter Judy. Since Suzy’s final port was in Philadelphia, she decided to look for a teaching position in the area. She spied an ad in the newspaper where a little school in Tabernacle, NJ was looking for teachers. She applied for the job and got it, signing her contract in Ernest Cutts, Sr.’s blueberry patch. Little did she know what the future held in store for her! Suzy Christine was given the option to teach seventh and eighth grade but with it came the responsibility of being principal as well. So for two years, from 1946 to 1948, Christine was both teacher and principal, touching the lives of many of her students who continued to keep in contact with her over the years. In fact, she had lunch with several of them just this past summer. Little did Suzy know that while at Tabernacle School, she would meet her future husband, George D. Simons, through an introduction by one of her students, Eddie Gallagher. Eddie worked after school for George’s family and told George he must meet his beautiful teacher. George and Suzy met, and the rest as they say is history. How ironic though that she would sign her teaching contract in a blueberry field only to end up working in one every summer! In 1948, Suzy Christine left the little school in Tabernacle to teach in the Mt. Holly School System, and for the next 38 years she served first as an elementary teacher and later as a guidance counselor, working at one time or another in all four schools in Mt. Holly—Samuel Miller, Brainard, Folwell, and finally Holbein. It was in 1972, when her daughter Judy was graduating from 8th grade, that Christine, or Chris as they called her in Mt. Holly, graduated from Rider College with a master’s degree in guidance and counseling. Chris was the consummate educator dedicated to teaching and guiding children--her daughter being her most prized and fortunate pupil. Upon Chris’ retirement from education in 1986, she took on a full-time role of helping her husband run the family’s blueberry and cranberry farm in Tabernacle. She chronicled every harvest, holiday and special event with photographs to the point that she was often fondly referred to as “Flash”. Upon her husband’s death in October 2001, she continued to be an integral part of the farming operation and still had her finger on the pulse of the daily activities until God called her home on Tuesday morning. Suzy Christine was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, George Dean Simons, as well as her parents Clyde and Nora Eggers, an infant sister Laura, a six-year old sister Beulah Jean, and her beloved older brother Emsley Morris, who was killed during World War II when the plane he was piloting was shot down over the Pacific by the Japanese. She is survived by her only child and dearest friend and companion, Judy S. Church of Tabernacle, NJ., and one step-grandson Lucas A. Church and his wife Emily of Raleigh, NC. In addition, she leaves behind her brother Stacy C. Eggers, Jr., Esquire, as well as her sister Margaret E. Perry, both of Boone, NC. Suzy blessed the lives of many people and relished the role of honorary “Mom” to Gregory Roberts, Maddie Wood, Mark Fisher, Lela Haines, Martin Holloway, Gerry DeRidder, Sally Defini, Mary Anne Mannix, Joan Fletcher and Barbara Bain., all of whom will miss her dearly. Suzy Christine also leaves behind five nephews and four nieces—Ron, Charlie, Gary, Roger, Markie, Rebecca, Marianna, Peggy and Betty. Some of them knew her as Aunt “Teenie” and others as Aunt Suzy. She will also be sorely missed by all her four-legged “grandchildren”,--Sophia Maria, Lucky, Timothy J., Callie Lou, Pat-Pat, Rusty, and Libby Lou. Friends are cordially invited to share their thoughts, condolences, and fond memories with Suzy Christine’s extended family on Monday evening, Sept. 19th from 7 to 9 p.m. at Perinchief Chapels, 438 High Street, Mt. Holly, or at the funeral service to be held at the family farm, 108 Moore’s Meadow Rd., Tabernacle on Tuesday morning, Sept. 20 at 11:00 a.m. Interment is to follow at Jr. Mechanics Cemetery in Tabernacle where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved George. All are welcome to a luncheon that will be served after the services back at the farm.

Suzy Christine E. Simons

September 9, 1921 - September 13, 2011