Nancy Simmons Link

Obituary: Mrs. Nancy Jane Simmons Link, 86, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her daughters on Sunday, July 30 after an extended illness. She was a woman of great faith and she lived her faith every day. It was her faith that carried her through difficult times in her life. She passed that strong faith to all of her daughters. Her happiest moments after losing her husband Bill were when she was with her daughters and their families. Nancy was born in White Plains, North Carolina in Surry County on October 3, 1930 to Robert Columbus Simmons and Lizzie Velora Jones Simmons. She was educated in White Plains and was a former Miss White Plains. She began corresponding with her late husband Bill when he was in the Navy. They were married after his discharge on June 6, 1947 and were married for 63 years until his death in 2010. They lived in Salisbury until they moved to Kannapolis in 1956. Nancy and Bill owned and operated Dairy Queen stores in Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg and Lexington until their retirement. Nancy enjoyed a lifelong love of music. She began singing at an early age with her sister and two cousins in a quartet. She continued in her adult life by singing in choirs and weddings and playing the piano. Her proudest accomplishment was her four daughters. She took great pride in teaching them many skills, how to care for their families and she taught each one to sew. She was an accomplished seamstress and made clothes for her daughters and grandchildren including daughter Diane's wedding gown. She also made quilts for her daughters out of scraps she kept from making their clothes. She was a former Girl Scout leader and was known for her chicken salad, fried apple pies and oyster stew. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Robert, Jimmy and Richard and sister, Peggy. Her husband William "Bill" Link passed away in 2010. She is survived by four daughters, Diane Poirier (Jimmy) of Statesville, Peggy Griggs, Carol Soles (Tim) of Kannapolis and Leesa Bain (Bob) of Concord; nine grandchildren, Will and Justin Poirier, Rebekah Lanning, Ethan and Emily Griggs, Ellie Walker, Rob and Carrigan Bain and Hannah Soles; six great-grandchildren, Macie, Kate and Colt Poirier, Aiden Adams and Jaylen and Malia Walker. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Thomas Steffens for his care and special calls to check on Mother. He always made her feel so special. They would also like to thank the entire staff of the Levine Cancer Center at Northeast Medical Center for their kindness and loving care of our mother. The family would also like to thank her personal caregivers from Home Instead; Maria, Pat, Janet, Lisa, Peggy, Courtney and Melissa for their loving care of our mother. A special thank you to Brooke, RN, Alyssa, CNA and Michelle, CNA of Hospice of Cabarrus County for their care and support to our family. The family would also like to thank very special friends and neighbors, Jan and Luke Blume and the Reverends James Fore and Debbie Frye for their love and special attention given to our mother. Finally, for her dear friends of Kimball Lutheran Church and especially her pastor, the Reverend John Futerer, the family is forever grateful. Visitation will be at Whitley's Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 1 from 6-8 pm. The funeral service will be on Wednesday, August 2, at 11:00 am at Kimball Lutheran Church. Memorials may be sent to Hospice of Cabarrus County or Kimball Lutheran Church.
Visitation: 6:00 to 8:00 PM Tuesday August 1, 2017 Whitley's Funeral Home

Service: 11:00 AM Wednesday August 2, 2017 Kimball Lutheran Church

Interment: Carolina Memorial Park