Margaret Simas

Margaret Mary Simas passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2015 in Medford at the age of 83. She was a 64 year resident of Yreka. Margaret was born February 22, 1932 in Ashland, daughter of Martin and Mary Rodriguez. Margaret was married for 51 years to the love of her life, John William Simas, who passed away in February of 2005. Margaret worked as a clerk for Rite Aid (formerly Payless Drug) in Yreka for 27 years, retiring at the age of 80. She was usually the person who trained new retail clerks on the registers, but many knew her as a friendly cashier with a warm greeting. She stayed in her job so long because she truly loved her work. She thought of her co-workers like a family. She enjoyed helping people, especially the elderly, and a lot of people she helped as customers soon became friends. Margaret enjoyed working in her yard planting flowers, tending her rose bushes, and mowing her lawn. She always had a garden from which she would make her well-known canned salsa and canned jalapenos. Margaret loved reading her Bible, and especially attending Bible Study, where she would meet new friends on a regular basis. In her spare time, Margaret enjoyed to read, go for walks, sew and at least once, if not twice per month, take a trip to Medford for some shopping and a visit to see her son, John, and her granddaughters. Most importantly, Margaret delighted in her family, spending every moment she could with her children and grandchildren. She was always looking forward to visits, birthdays, holidays, and events that would bring them all together, such as her own surprise 80th birthday party three years ago. She quite simply loved life, God, and her precious family. She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and her family and friends will miss her, but certainly never forget her. Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, John Simas, a brother, Daniel Rodriguez; a sister, Helen Rice; and her parents, Martin & Mary Rodriguez. She is survived by her four children: Patty & Ken Dooley of Yreka, Jackie & Darren Henry of Dallas, TX, John Simas, Jr., of Eagle Point, and Anthony & Katrina Simas of Franklin, OH; 5 brothers: Salvador, Marty, Raymond, Ronnie, and Donnie Rodriguez; a sister, Mary Alice Hargis; close sister-in-law, Vera Rodriguez; 9 grandchildren: Nathan (Tiffany) Dooley, Travis (Ashley) Dooley, Heather (Ed) Rodriguez, Jennifer (Hisidro) Smith, Ashley Simas, Andrea Simas, Jonathan (Jenny) Gregory, Sean Simas, and Shea Simas; 4 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Recitation of the Rosary will be held Friday, April 17, at 7:00 p.m. at Girdner Funeral Chapel in Yreka. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, April 18, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Yreka, with inurnment to follow in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Madrone Hospice House, 255 Collier Circle, Yreka, or to a charity of your choice.

Margaret Simas

February 22, 1932 - April 7, 2015