YARMOUTH — Mildred B. “Sandy” Simmonds La Course, 86, died July 31 at home after a brief illness.

On May 28, 1924, she was born in Bradley to Edwin and Mina Mudgett. As a young child, she and her siblings were placed in an orphanage and later grew up in a foster family in Winterport, where she attended local schools.

From 1946 to 1974 she was married to Roy Simmonds, and from 1974 to 2006, she was married to Roland La Course .

A devoted mother and homemaker, she was immensely proud of her children and loved all of them dearly.

When her children were grown, she pursued work outside the home. Her love of caregiving led her to begin working as a nursing assistant at National Medical Care and later at Portland City Hospital.

After taking an early retirement, she and Roland traveled the country extensively in their R.V., and enjoyed winters in Naples, Fla.

Advertisement

A talented dancer with a lovely singing voice, her greatest joy was planting her beautiful flower gardens and tending them daily.

She and her daughter Sandra had a special bond, and spent endless amounts of time together, shopping, eating out, or going for a ride.

Her loving spirit, kindness, wisdom and selfless devotion will be remembered by all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her five children, Sandra Simmonds of Yarmouth, who was her constant companion and caregiver, Sharon and husband Edward Libby of Scarborough, Roy Simmonds III of Raymond, Gary Simmonds of Otisfield, and Susan Groomer of Spencer, Ind.; three sisters, June Glidden of Frankfort, Alice Cunningham of Brooksville, Fla., and Evelyn Tinkham of Fitchburg, Mass., and a brother, Freddie Mudgett of Frankfort; five grandchildren, Shari and husband Anthony Palazzetti of South Berwick, Roy Simmonds IV of Las Vegas, Nev., Rhonda Simmonds of Australia, Ryan Simmonds of New Gloucester, and Noelle of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and seven great-grandchildren, Abby and Libby of South Berwick, Anthony, Ryan and Andrew of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Sarah and Chloe of Las Vegas, Nev.

Memorial services were held last month.

Arrangements are by Wilson Funeral Home in Gray.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.