WILEY was born to RETTIE and LEVI FRANKLIN SIMMONS. He was the oldest of four children, all being born in Oklahoma. WILEY'S father was on his way home from work one afternoon when his car was struck by another vehicle. LEVI was killed instantly. He was 27 years old. At that time WILEY was 8 years old; his sister, VIRGINIA 6; brothers MARVIN 5; and JOLLY, three.
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WILEY served two years in U.S. ARMY during WWII
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WILEY was a baker with Golden Crust Bakery in Bakersfield. He was a self-employed painting contractor and worked part-time 17 years at Payless Drug Store as a security officer.
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For 17 years WILEY was a reserve officer for the City of Bakersfield Police Department. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant during that period of time.
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While employed as a baker, WILEY heard that the sheriff's department was hiring people. He submitted his application and was hired. Thus began an intense career working in communications as a sheriff's dispatcher. The job requires a special type of personality and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations; and WILEY was one of those unique types of people.
When he first became a dispatcher, handwritten notes and logs were kept of personnel out in the field. On weekend days in the earlier years, WILEY worked alone in a room located in the basement area of the facility. This tiny room could seat two dispatchers when needed at the radio console, and it was simply referred to over the years as, "the cage." There were two desk officers sitting upstairs taking "walk-in" reports from the public as well as calls from the public via switchboard operators. They, in turn, communicated with WILEY on a couple of phone "hot" lines. He couldn't take a few steps away from the radio to use the restroom without first advising the desk officers upstairs to monitor the radio for him during his absence.
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In December of 1980, WILEY had to have triple-bypass heart surgery. Due to the stress of his job and ongoing health issues, WILEY took a medical retirement. However, the county's retirement board awarded him a "service-connected" medical retirement only a few months later.
Since I was employed with the department as well, working in "Records & Identification," we talked it over and made the decision that I would resign from the department in order to be with WILEY full time. We sold the house and moved from Bakersfield to the McKenzie River area of Oregon within a year.
WILEY had his first stroke less than two years after moving to Oregon. It was caused by a blockage in a major artery on the left side of his neck; therefore, he was partially paralyzed on the right-hand side of his body. He was right handed so that was a problem. He was in a wheelchair for over a year and had physical therapy here at home for about a year. He wasn't able to regain the use of his right hand, so I became "his right hand" learning how to use an array of power tools and such; at times getting into all sorts of trouble. I learned how to split wood for the fireplace, too, but I "resigned" from that job one day after a chunk of wood tumbled backwards hitting me in the mouth and messing up my lower-lip. It was cut a little and swollen a lot, so I was crying and carrying on saying I was never having anything to do with "that kind of hard labor" again! WILEY felt bad and wanted to take me out to dinner. That made me mad since my lip was getting more swollen and painful by the second, and he wanted to buy me a steak dinner! Very poor timing, I think!
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Early one morning towards the end of April of 1998, WILEY woke me up and said he wasn't feeling well. I called 911 and explained about his stroke and heart problems. The local medics arrived at our house and tended to WILEY until the ambulance arrived from Springfield approximately forty-five minutes away. His vital signs were fairly stable at home, but on the way to the hospital the medic had to perform some type of breathing assistance for him. They continued that procedure in the hospital emergency room, as well, squeezing a hand-held bulb-type thing to force air into his lungs.
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WILEY passed on to be with the Lord on May 1, 1998, while I was standing right beside his bed at the hospital. My son CARL had just left to go pick up my stepson, GLEN, at the Eugene airport. I was looking right at WILEY, and he was kind of smiling looking up at me. I had reaffirmed that CARL was on his way to the airport to get GLEN, so he was aware that GLEN was on his way. At some point, while I was standing beside the bed, WILEY'S expression changed, and he wasn't looking up at me anymore. I rang for the nurse, and she immediately came hurrying in and checked his vital signs. She told me he had died.
I couldn't believe that WILEY had slipped away like that; suddenly, but peacefully. One moment he was fully awake and comfortable, and the next moment he was gone. I sat beside the bed incredulous as to what had happened.
In addition to myself, WILEY was survived by his children from two previous marriages; sons GLEN and JAMES, and two daughters, PEGGY and ELAINE; his mother, RETTIE CLAYTON; brothers MARVIN and JOLLY SIMMONS; and a sister, VIRGINIA CHENAULT. WILEY was also survived by his beloved stepson, CARL ADKINS. WILEY had been a good stepfather to CARL.
***************************************
WILEY served two years in U.S. ARMY during WWII
***************************************
WILEY was a baker with Golden Crust Bakery in Bakersfield. He was a self-employed painting contractor and worked part-time 17 years at Payless Drug Store as a security officer.
***************************************
For 17 years WILEY was a reserve officer for the City of Bakersfield Police Department. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant during that period of time.
***************************************
While employed as a baker, WILEY heard that the sheriff's department was hiring people. He submitted his application and was hired. Thus began an intense career working in communications as a sheriff's dispatcher. The job requires a special type of personality and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations; and WILEY was one of those unique types of people.
When he first became a dispatcher, handwritten notes and logs were kept of personnel out in the field. On weekend days in the earlier years, WILEY worked alone in a room located in the basement area of the facility. This tiny room could seat two dispatchers when needed at the radio console, and it was simply referred to over the years as, "the cage." There were two desk officers sitting upstairs taking "walk-in" reports from the public as well as calls from the public via switchboard operators. They, in turn, communicated with WILEY on a couple of phone "hot" lines. He couldn't take a few steps away from the radio to use the restroom without first advising the desk officers upstairs to monitor the radio for him during his absence.
***************************************
In December of 1980, WILEY had to have triple-bypass heart surgery. Due to the stress of his job and ongoing health issues, WILEY took a medical retirement. However, the county's retirement board awarded him a "service-connected" medical retirement only a few months later.
Since I was employed with the department as well, working in "Records & Identification," we talked it over and made the decision that I would resign from the department in order to be with WILEY full time. We sold the house and moved from Bakersfield to the McKenzie River area of Oregon within a year.
WILEY had his first stroke less than two years after moving to Oregon. It was caused by a blockage in a major artery on the left side of his neck; therefore, he was partially paralyzed on the right-hand side of his body. He was right handed so that was a problem. He was in a wheelchair for over a year and had physical therapy here at home for about a year. He wasn't able to regain the use of his right hand, so I became "his right hand" learning how to use an array of power tools and such; at times getting into all sorts of trouble. I learned how to split wood for the fireplace, too, but I "resigned" from that job one day after a chunk of wood tumbled backwards hitting me in the mouth and messing up my lower-lip. It was cut a little and swollen a lot, so I was crying and carrying on saying I was never having anything to do with "that kind of hard labor" again! WILEY felt bad and wanted to take me out to dinner. That made me mad since my lip was getting more swollen and painful by the second, and he wanted to buy me a steak dinner! Very poor timing, I think!
***************************************
Early one morning towards the end of April of 1998, WILEY woke me up and said he wasn't feeling well. I called 911 and explained about his stroke and heart problems. The local medics arrived at our house and tended to WILEY until the ambulance arrived from Springfield approximately forty-five minutes away. His vital signs were fairly stable at home, but on the way to the hospital the medic had to perform some type of breathing assistance for him. They continued that procedure in the hospital emergency room, as well, squeezing a hand-held bulb-type thing to force air into his lungs.
***************************************
WILEY passed on to be with the Lord on May 1, 1998, while I was standing right beside his bed at the hospital. My son CARL had just left to go pick up my stepson, GLEN, at the Eugene airport. I was looking right at WILEY, and he was kind of smiling looking up at me. I had reaffirmed that CARL was on his way to the airport to get GLEN, so he was aware that GLEN was on his way. At some point, while I was standing beside the bed, WILEY'S expression changed, and he wasn't looking up at me anymore. I rang for the nurse, and she immediately came hurrying in and checked his vital signs. She told me he had died.
I couldn't believe that WILEY had slipped away like that; suddenly, but peacefully. One moment he was fully awake and comfortable, and the next moment he was gone. I sat beside the bed incredulous as to what had happened.
In addition to myself, WILEY was survived by his children from two previous marriages; sons GLEN and JAMES, and two daughters, PEGGY and ELAINE; his mother, RETTIE CLAYTON; brothers MARVIN and JOLLY SIMMONS; and a sister, VIRGINIA CHENAULT. WILEY was also survived by his beloved stepson, CARL ADKINS. WILEY had been a good stepfather to CARL.
WILEY was born to RETTIE and LEVI FRANKLIN SIMMONS. He was the oldest of four children, all being born in Oklahoma. WILEY'S father was on his way home from work one afternoon when his car was struck by another vehicle. LEVI was killed instantly. He was 27 years old. At that time WILEY was 8 years old; his sister, VIRGINIA 6; brothers MARVIN 5; and JOLLY, three.
***************************************
WILEY served two years in U.S. ARMY during WWII
***************************************
WILEY was a baker with Golden Crust Bakery in Bakersfield. He was a self-employed painting contractor and worked part-time 17 years at Payless Drug Store as a security officer.
***************************************
For 17 years WILEY was a reserve officer for the City of Bakersfield Police Department. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant during that period of time.
***************************************
While employed as a baker, WILEY heard that the sheriff's department was hiring people. He submitted his application and was hired. Thus began an intense career working in communications as a sheriff's dispatcher. The job requires a special type of personality and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations; and WILEY was one of those unique types of people.
When he first became a dispatcher, handwritten notes and logs were kept of personnel out in the field. On weekend days in the earlier years, WILEY worked alone in a room located in the basement area of the facility. This tiny room could seat two dispatchers when needed at the radio console, and it was simply referred to over the years as, "the cage." There were two desk officers sitting upstairs taking "walk-in" reports from the public as well as calls from the public via switchboard operators. They, in turn, communicated with WILEY on a couple of phone "hot" lines. He couldn't take a few steps away from the radio to use the restroom without first advising the desk officers upstairs to monitor the radio for him during his absence.
***************************************
In December of 1980, WILEY had to have triple-bypass heart surgery. Due to the stress of his job and ongoing health issues, WILEY took a medical retirement. However, the county's retirement board awarded him a "service-connected" medical retirement only a few months later.
Since I was employed with the department as well, working in "Records & Identification," we talked it over and made the decision that I would resign from the department in order to be with WILEY full time. We sold the house and moved from Bakersfield to the McKenzie River area of Oregon within a year.
WILEY had his first stroke less than two years after moving to Oregon. It was caused by a blockage in a major artery on the left side of his neck; therefore, he was partially paralyzed on the right-hand side of his body. He was right handed so that was a problem. He was in a wheelchair for over a year and had physical therapy here at home for about a year. He wasn't able to regain the use of his right hand, so I became "his right hand" learning how to use an array of power tools and such; at times getting into all sorts of trouble. I learned how to split wood for the fireplace, too, but I "resigned" from that job one day after a chunk of wood tumbled backwards hitting me in the mouth and messing up my lower-lip. It was cut a little and swollen a lot, so I was crying and carrying on saying I was never having anything to do with "that kind of hard labor" again! WILEY felt bad and wanted to take me out to dinner. That made me mad since my lip was getting more swollen and painful by the second, and he wanted to buy me a steak dinner! Very poor timing, I think!
***************************************
Early one morning towards the end of April of 1998, WILEY woke me up and said he wasn't feeling well. I called 911 and explained about his stroke and heart problems. The local medics arrived at our house and tended to WILEY until the ambulance arrived from Springfield approximately forty-five minutes away. His vital signs were fairly stable at home, but on the way to the hospital the medic had to perform some type of breathing assistance for him. They continued that procedure in the hospital emergency room, as well, squeezing a hand-held bulb-type thing to force air into his lungs.
***************************************
WILEY passed on to be with the Lord on May 1, 1998, while I was standing right beside his bed at the hospital. My son CARL had just left to go pick up my stepson, GLEN, at the Eugene airport. I was looking right at WILEY, and he was kind of smiling looking up at me. I had reaffirmed that CARL was on his way to the airport to get GLEN, so he was aware that GLEN was on his way. At some point, while I was standing beside the bed, WILEY'S expression changed, and he wasn't looking up at me anymore. I rang for the nurse, and she immediately came hurrying in and checked his vital signs. She told me he had died.
I couldn't believe that WILEY had slipped away like that; suddenly, but peacefully. One moment he was fully awake and comfortable, and the next moment he was gone. I sat beside the bed incredulous as to what had happened.
In addition to myself, WILEY was survived by his children from two previous marriages; sons GLEN and JAMES, and two daughters, PEGGY and ELAINE; his mother, RETTIE CLAYTON; brothers MARVIN and JOLLY SIMMONS; and a sister, VIRGINIA CHENAULT. WILEY was also survived by his beloved stepson, CARL ADKINS. WILEY had been a good stepfather to CARL.
***************************************
WILEY served two years in U.S. ARMY during WWII
***************************************
WILEY was a baker with Golden Crust Bakery in Bakersfield. He was a self-employed painting contractor and worked part-time 17 years at Payless Drug Store as a security officer.
***************************************
For 17 years WILEY was a reserve officer for the City of Bakersfield Police Department. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant during that period of time.
***************************************
While employed as a baker, WILEY heard that the sheriff's department was hiring people. He submitted his application and was hired. Thus began an intense career working in communications as a sheriff's dispatcher. The job requires a special type of personality and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations; and WILEY was one of those unique types of people.
When he first became a dispatcher, handwritten notes and logs were kept of personnel out in the field. On weekend days in the earlier years, WILEY worked alone in a room located in the basement area of the facility. This tiny room could seat two dispatchers when needed at the radio console, and it was simply referred to over the years as, "the cage." There were two desk officers sitting upstairs taking "walk-in" reports from the public as well as calls from the public via switchboard operators. They, in turn, communicated with WILEY on a couple of phone "hot" lines. He couldn't take a few steps away from the radio to use the restroom without first advising the desk officers upstairs to monitor the radio for him during his absence.
***************************************
In December of 1980, WILEY had to have triple-bypass heart surgery. Due to the stress of his job and ongoing health issues, WILEY took a medical retirement. However, the county's retirement board awarded him a "service-connected" medical retirement only a few months later.
Since I was employed with the department as well, working in "Records & Identification," we talked it over and made the decision that I would resign from the department in order to be with WILEY full time. We sold the house and moved from Bakersfield to the McKenzie River area of Oregon within a year.
WILEY had his first stroke less than two years after moving to Oregon. It was caused by a blockage in a major artery on the left side of his neck; therefore, he was partially paralyzed on the right-hand side of his body. He was right handed so that was a problem. He was in a wheelchair for over a year and had physical therapy here at home for about a year. He wasn't able to regain the use of his right hand, so I became "his right hand" learning how to use an array of power tools and such; at times getting into all sorts of trouble. I learned how to split wood for the fireplace, too, but I "resigned" from that job one day after a chunk of wood tumbled backwards hitting me in the mouth and messing up my lower-lip. It was cut a little and swollen a lot, so I was crying and carrying on saying I was never having anything to do with "that kind of hard labor" again! WILEY felt bad and wanted to take me out to dinner. That made me mad since my lip was getting more swollen and painful by the second, and he wanted to buy me a steak dinner! Very poor timing, I think!
***************************************
Early one morning towards the end of April of 1998, WILEY woke me up and said he wasn't feeling well. I called 911 and explained about his stroke and heart problems. The local medics arrived at our house and tended to WILEY until the ambulance arrived from Springfield approximately forty-five minutes away. His vital signs were fairly stable at home, but on the way to the hospital the medic had to perform some type of breathing assistance for him. They continued that procedure in the hospital emergency room, as well, squeezing a hand-held bulb-type thing to force air into his lungs.
***************************************
WILEY passed on to be with the Lord on May 1, 1998, while I was standing right beside his bed at the hospital. My son CARL had just left to go pick up my stepson, GLEN, at the Eugene airport. I was looking right at WILEY, and he was kind of smiling looking up at me. I had reaffirmed that CARL was on his way to the airport to get GLEN, so he was aware that GLEN was on his way. At some point, while I was standing beside the bed, WILEY'S expression changed, and he wasn't looking up at me anymore. I rang for the nurse, and she immediately came hurrying in and checked his vital signs. She told me he had died.
I couldn't believe that WILEY had slipped away like that; suddenly, but peacefully. One moment he was fully awake and comfortable, and the next moment he was gone. I sat beside the bed incredulous as to what had happened.
In addition to myself, WILEY was survived by his children from two previous marriages; sons GLEN and JAMES, and two daughters, PEGGY and ELAINE; his mother, RETTIE CLAYTON; brothers MARVIN and JOLLY SIMMONS; and a sister, VIRGINIA CHENAULT. WILEY was also survived by his beloved stepson, CARL ADKINS. WILEY had been a good stepfather to CARL.
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