Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Dylan Thomas

"Cautiously optimistic" were the doctors' only words of hope 13 years ago when Bill was diagnosed with heart disease. Defying the odds, Bill Simer gave his family the ultimate gift of an additional 13 years. He reluctantly passed from this Earth in the early morning of May 1, 2012, at Kindred Hospital in Oklahoma City at the miraculous age of 80, surrounded by his family that he loved so much. At Bill's request, the family will have a private celebration of his life.

Friends can sign a memory book for the family at Roberts and Son Funeral Home through Thursday, May 10, when daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchild will be present to from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Bill was born in Talihina, Oklahoma, to Herschel Simer and Lucille (Alexander) Simer on September 2, 1931. He and his parents moved to Leon, Iowa, when Bill was four. Two years later, Bill's father died suddenly. It was in Leon that Bill attended and graduated high school, and he would meet and later marry his high school sweetheart, Donna Dyrhovd, on June 3, 1951. He attended college at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. The couple had three children, all girls: Vikki, Toni, and Michaeleen.

Bill spent most of his working life in the farm implement business, owning his own Allis Chalmers dealership when he moved his family to Blackwell in 1972. He later managed the John Deere dealership west of Blackwell and worked at the John Deere dealership in Stillwater. After retiring from farm implement sales in his early 70s, he decided to learn a whole new profession and took online coursework to obtain his real estate license. He had been selling real estate for Century 21 since that time.

Bill was preceded in death by his father, mother, sister Hilda, and niece Sue.

Survivors include: his wife Donna, of the home; daughter Vikki Simer of Oklahoma City, daughter Toni Jeffries and granddaughter Chi Anne of Tonkawa/Lamont; daughter Michaeleen Paige, husband Derry Paige, granddaughter Hunter and grandson Axel of Blackwell; granddaughter Colby Choate, husband Dusty Choate, and great grandson Lyndell Don; and his beloved Corgi, Willie.

Bill was an avid supporter of all his grandkids' activities, and he spent most of his spare time attending and cheering at basketball games, softball games, and every school and vocal program. He was a gun enthusiast, loved to fish, and generally was fond of the outdoors. Bill enjoyed traveling around the world, and has taken each of his three daughters on adventures to Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Monte Carlo, Italy and the Bahamas, and he traveled with his wife to Spain.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions may be made to the following: Oklahoma Department of Wildlife—Hunter Education. Contribution may be made in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 West Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.

"God's finger touched him and he slept." Lord Alfred Tennyson