Obituary

For Peggy Joan Simmerman Titus, no title held more weight, gave her more joy, or shaped her soul the way being a Mom did.

Her life began on August 30, 1939, when she was born at home on a farm in Columbus, MO to Alva Dean Adams Simmerman (1913-1991) & Merlin Wallace Simmerman (1920-1995). Saying that she grew up in a rural environment is an understatement – outhouses, no electricity — with bathwater, curling rods, & irons being heated on the stove.

As an extremely shy child & young adult, her sisters – Janet Kay Simmerman Matthews (1942-2004) and Wanda Rae Simmerman Bolles (1948-1994) – were her constant companions, along with books that were a lifelong love. As she got older, she started making more friends like Linda and Vivian.

She attended college in Warrensburg with no idea of what she wanted to be and somehow ended up as an English teacher in Lee’s Summit. Her shyness started to disappear when she became a teacher and she fell in love with both the material and her students, even though she only taught for 2.5 years.

Throughout her life, she continued to spread her wings — an extended tour of Europe; marriage to the star basketball coach at LSHS, Francis Titus (1924-2008); the births of her daughter, Shawn (that’s me!), and of her son, Jarrod; long summer days at White Ridge pool; even longer summer days stemming gooseberries, shelling peas, canning corn, and making sweet pickles; taking me to piano lessons and attending recitals and other events once I started singing; going to more of Jarrod’s baseball games than anyone could count – from when he was a player, a coach, and a parent of kids playing softball & baseball; new friends like Shirley and Nigel; seeing Jarrod marry Kendra; becoming a grandmother to Jarrod and Kendra’s daughter, Riley, and son, Jake.

After we left home, she turned her focus to sewing and creating beautiful fabric-based art full of vibrant color. She, Nigel, and Shirley used to get together often and work on their art together.

When dad passed, Mom turned her home into a brightly colored masterpiece filled with her art and items she loved. She continued to create more art moving from clothing art to framed art, and designing and creating her own purses. She traveled with me to Texas, California, Washington DC, Hawaii, the UK, Italy, Greece, and Ireland, and attended even more baseball games with Jarrod.

When Riley and Jake were born, she drove to Ottawa every Thursday to help take care of them. Even as they grew into adults, this continued and became the favorite day of the week for her, Riley, and Jake.

She also started collecting more dear and close friends like Marilyn, Jane, Terry, Donna, David, Thomas, & Pam (who was a former student) from every area of her life. She joined a book club and a Sunday School class, where she started teaching again. She loved designing thoughtful and thought-provoking lessons.  She continued to be a gentle soul filled with love.

Always a fashionista and an example of sophistication – in 2020, she bought her dream car – a little red mustang that absolutely fit her sense of style and personality.

I will forever be greatful that I moved back home in December. Mom and I had the best time hanging out – from deep conversations about any and everything to cooking together.

I suspect that with her humble beginnings she never knew that she would grow to have the adventurous full life she did.

Early in the morning on August 4, 2025, she peacefully passed away from this outside world and into the hearts of those who loved her. Her passing was unexpected.

She is survived by her daughter Shawn Titus, son Jarrod Titus (Kendra) [Riley & Jake Titus]; Janet’s family: greatniece Rachel Moody (Garrett) [Eli, Peyton, & Chase Moody] & greatniece Patricia Axton (Travis) [Ally, Robert, Lexi, Addison, & soon Avery Axton]; Wanda Rae’s husband John Bolles, nephew ‘John’ Mike Bolles (Melinda) [Molly, Harley, and Jacob Bolles], nephew Stephen Bolles, and niece Tracy Kinsey (Adam), and cousin, Cleta Walters.

She is preceded in death by her mother and father, sisters Wanda Rae and Janet (along with husband, Tommy, and nephew, Greg Matthews).

A private memorial will be held at Langsford Funeral Home, followed by a public Celebration of Life. The Celebration of Life potluck will be held on August 18, 2025 at 3:00 at her home.  Please wear brightly colored clothes, shoes, mismatched earrings, and floppy hats! For more information about the Celebration, please email Shawn at peggytitus+celebration@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (donate.imaginationlibrary.com).