Steven "Steve" Howard Simons

Steven Howard Simons age 68 of Maben, Mississippi passed away at his residence on Friday, July 3, 2026. Steven was born in Hobbs, New Mexico on September 18, 1957, to the late Willie Howard Simons and Judith Elaine Wofford Simons. 

Steve was a welder by hand and a troubadour by heart. He spent his life crafting beautiful works and cherishing things closest to him. Family was the center of his universe. For those of us who knew his love and his loyalty, we knew it was boundless. Through the great times and the tough times, one thing was constant, we knew he was always there.

Steve chose to live a life on the land that he loved in the home that meant the most to him, guided by his heart until his final day. Hard work and dedication to was his North Star. He loved the simplicity of life and had a boundless curiosity for the edges of understanding that he applied to every element of his life on the hill.

He lived his life with his guitar close by. He constantly wrote music and kept little scribbles of lyrics, songs and poems long forgotten and often revisited. One of his greatest joys was performing music for his friends and family.

One of the best welders of his time. Steve worked on some of our nation’s most critical infrastructure as he prided himself of shooting 100 every time…no exceptions. With a steady hand and keen eye, Steve made sure that the lights stayed on and water kept running for millions of families around our nation as he traveled and repaired power plants throughout the country.

Most important in Steve’s life was his love for his friends and family. His love and loyalty was not given freely, but he was always willing to lend a helping hand to a stranger. To those friends who had his heart, they knew he loved deeply and they could always count on him being there for a long conversation or a visit on his Harley, the infamous Bob E Lee. 

Steve shared his final chapter of life in love with Melecia who recently preceded him in death. She was a woman with a beautiful soul and we’re thankful for the love and companionship they shared. It provided him with great comfort and affection for many years, and it is comforting to know that they are holding hands once again in a warm embrace.

Perhaps the deepest love Steve experienced in this life was that for his mother, Judy, and it is therefore only fitting that he goes home on her birthday to be her greatest present in heaven. She has all of her babies with her once again.

Steve was a father that showed his son the adventures of life. He taught him how to be a man on his own terms and never to accept less than the best from himself and others. He was more than a father. He was a daddy who took his boy fishing and hunting and taught him the ways of the land. He instilled in his son a deep passion for all of God’s creation and a respect for those who deserved it. He taught him how to use his intuition to guide him in life and showed him that love, while not always easy, was forever constant.

Steve was a proud grandpa. He spoke of his grandson Finn often and passed surrounded by his pictures and beautiful memories of times spent together. 

He loved passionately and to those of us who knew him well, he will forever be missed. 

Go rest high on that mountain daddy. You’ve worked hard in this life and deserve a beautiful rest.

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Steve is survived by two children, Blake Simons and Rhiannon (Jonathan) Bouvier-Illuzzi and three grandchildren, Finnley Tobias Simons, Kaia Bouvier and Nolan Illuzzi. He is preceded in death by both of his parents, Willie Howard Simons and Judith Elaine Wofford Simons and one sister, Lori Melissa Meads. 

A Graveside Service will be held for Steve at 10:00AM on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at Double Springs Methodist Cemetery on Maben-Sturgis Road in Maben, Mississippi. The family will receive friends and loved ones for a time of Visitation from 9:30AM until time for services at 10:00AM Saturday, July 11, 2026, at Double Springs Methodist Cemetery. Interment will follow the Graveside Services there at Double Springs Methodist Cemetery. Rev. Cody Henderson will officiate the services. Oliver Funeral Home of Eupora is honored to be entrusted with all arrangements for the Simons family.

In lieu of flowers, the family request all Memorials in Steve's memory be donated to the following link to help with his monument https://gofund.me/aa9cb581d