Arthur Wayne Sims

Amory – Arthur Wayne Sims, 77, passed away with his family surrounding him on Thursday, October 13, 2022, at his residence in Amory. He was born on October 3, 1945, in Sulligent Alabama to the late Luther Aron “Buddy” Sims and Weada Henly Sims.

Wayne grew up in Monroe County, MS and attended Quincy Elementary School and Hatley High School. In addition to his parents, some of his big influences in his life were his great-grandmother Mary Clingan and great-aunt Daisy Miller. Wayne worked hard to support his family and he was an all around talented man.

He initially worked at Brock’s Candy in Chicago where he made Bit O Honey and Kit Kat Bars. Then he moved back to Mississippi and worked for Palmer Machine Works for 9 years where he built gravel trailers doing some welding and machining. After that, he worked at Northington Trucking Company as a Shop Foreman for 3 years in Iuka. Their main project was building the waterway from Bay Springs. Wayne then became a shop foreman at Transport Trailer and Machine in Tupelo for 9 years. Lastly he was the owner of Sims Truck & Trailer Repair for 10 years prior to retiring in 2001.

At a young age, on July 22, 1964, he married the love of his life, Judy Dianne Watson, and they were happily married for 58 years. As a young man, he grew up in church and enjoyed singing and listening to gospel music. Wayne enjoyed all his blessings in life, including his daughters and grandchildren and made sure that he taught them the important things about life. Often times, he and his close friends solved all the problems of life while they drank coffee at the Hatley Store. Wayne was a stout Trump supporter and anyone that knew him would tell you he was a proud American.

An outdoorsman, Wayne loved to fish and teach kids how to find and catch a big one. He also coached and sponsored the boys’ baseball teams at Hatley, where his grandson Josh played growing up. Wayne also coached girls’ softball at Smithville while his girls were playing there. In addition to his wife, his pets, Bigfoot and Tiger were by his side and very important parts of his life.

In times past, he tended to his large gardens and volunteered at the Gattman Fire Department, working close beside his dear friend Earl Frye. He also was a founding member of the Storm Chasers group as he loved the dynamic weather changes that came through Mississippi. Some of his close friends were Thomas Jernigan, Robert Earl Elliott, and Greg Louis.

Later in life, he enjoyed listening to rock and roll, the Eagles, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s music, as well as Country music especially Merl Haggard and Johnny Cash.

He knew that the important things in life weren’t things at all. Wayne said many times in the past “You can’t take it with you. You never saw a Hearse with a U Haul behind it”. His family is thankful for his sense of humor, his realization of what matters in life, and the role model he was for them. The legacy of Wayne will live on in the hearts and minds of his family and friends.

He is survived by his loving wife, Judy “Watson” Sims, Amory; daughters, Dianne Justice, Amory, Tonia Montet (Joel), Amory; grandchildren, Joshua Allen Hughes (Amber), Hatley, Andrew Tray Justice, Amory, John Thomas Montet, Amory, Kyle Montet, Mooreville; great-grandchildren, Emmacait Roebuck, Hatley; sister, Shirley Rice (Barry).

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, C. W. Clingan, Mary Clingan; grandparents, Henley and Mae Bell Henley Colburn; sisters, Eunice Rice, Betty McMillian; infant brother, Stanley Sims.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, October 16, 2022, at 2:30 pm at E. E. Pickle Funeral Home in Amory, MS with Bro. Danny Burks officiating. Burial will follow in New Hope Cemetery, Hatley, MS with pallbearers being Josh Hughes, John Thomas Montet, Tray Justice, Stanley Barrett, Chris Barrett, Joel Montet. Honorary Pallbearers will be Robert Earl Elliott, Tom Jernigan, Greg Lewis, Curry Justice and Allen Hughes.

Visitation for family and friends will be on Sunday, October 16, 2022 from 12:30 pm until the service hour at the funeral home in Amory.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors project.

Memories and condolences may be shared with his family at EEPickleFuneralHome.com