The Idaho Statesman | Edition Date: August 01, 2004

Lori Lynn (Lake) Simmons was born 6 weeks premature on Nov. 9, 1966
in Olympia, Wash. Lori went home to be with Jesus July 28, 2004,
after a head-on collision with a drunk driver. Lori attended South
Bay Elementary School, Chinook Middle School, and graduated from North
Thurston High School in Olympia in 1985. Lori loved and participated
in music groups both at school and at church. Lori loved animals and
would bring home strays, until her father told her if you bring home
another you´ll have to give one away. Lori graduated from Northwest
Nazarene College with a degree in elementary education. She taught
kindergarten at Greenleaf Friends Academy for a couple of years and 13
years at East Canyon Elementary School in Nampa. Kindergarten was the
perfect place for Lori. With her kind heart and compassion, she reached
out to each child, instilling a love for learning. Lori´s desire for
herself was to be a lifelong learner. She was working on her master´s
degree in creative arts and learning from Lesley University. She would
have completed the program in October. Lori married Lee Simmons in
September 1986 in Olympia, Wash. They were blessed with two children,
Stephanie (age 12) and Christopher (age 9). Her children were the love
of her life. She shared her love of poetry, art and music with them,
and made sure they were involved in soccer, basketball, baseball, piano
lessons and church. She also made sure to share her love of Jesus Christ
with her kids. Lori had a zest for life; despite wrestling with motion
sickness, she still went sky diving, flew in ultra-light planes, and
went tubing in McCall with her kids and friends. Lori is survived by
Stephanie and Christopher Simmons of Nampa; her parents Everett A. and
Patricia A. Lake of Tumwater, Wash; her brother and sister-in-law Alan
and Suzy Lake, and their children Devin and Ashley Lake of Auburn, Wash.;
her grandmother Dorrie Arfsten of Boise; aunt Juanita Anstine of Coeur
d'Alene; and cousin Jean Peters of Sparks, Nev. She is also survived by
her very special friends Dale and Cindy Penner, who provided their tender,
loving compassionate care. Lori attended Real Life Community Church and
First Church of the Nazarene in Nampa. Lori accepted Jesus Christ as her
personal Savior when she was a child. Her desire was for all her loved
ones to have that same relationship with the Lord, so they could one
day be with her in Heaven. A memorial service will be Wednesday, Aug. 4,
2004 at 2:30 p.m. at First Church of the Nazarene in Nampa. Friends may
call at Dakan Funeral Chapel in Caldwell on Tuesday, Aug. 3 from 5:00 -
8:00 p.m. A graveside service will be held at a later date in Washington.