CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The community gathered to remember a local hero Friday.
Richard Avery Simmers was born Nov. 21, 1945 in New Kensington, Pennsylvania.
He died on Jan. 17 in Corpus Christi.
Simmers was a 20 year veteran in the U.S. Navy and served as a volunteer fireman for more than 40 years in Nueces County. He was also a retired reserve deputy constable.
On Friday, Simmers was laid to rest at the Coastal Bend Veterans Cemetery.
The funeral procession was escorted by Nueces county Constables and Nueces county Fire Dept. The Patriot Guard also stood with a silent flag line.
Simmers is survived by his wife, Barbara, of 54 years, along with their two children and 10 grandchildren.
He was 75 years old.
