SIMS, Albert Dee (Al) (Rev.)

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ June 19, 2008 Rev. Albert Dee "Al" Sims was called to be with his Lord June 12, 2008, in Newcastle, Wyo. Al was born Jan. 17, 1932, on the family ranch located near Pastura, N.M., to pioneer ranchers George Edgar Sims and Wahlecia Dell Blackwell Sims. He married Geraldine "Jerry" Call in Pecos, Texas, in 1960. Both his parents and wife, as well as a brother, George Tommy Sims, and sisters-in-law Harriett Spiller Sims and Emily Estes Sims, preceded him in death. Al graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1950 where he was a basketball star receiving a scholarship from New Mexico Highlands University. He also played basketball while in the Navy, his team winning the 17th Naval District Championship. He attended New Mexico State University (NM and M) at Las Cruces, N.M., and Sul Ross States Teacher's College in Alpine, Texas, receiving a bachelor's degree in range animal husbandry and a minor in education in 1959. He was a cowboy for the H Bar Spear Angus Ranch near St. Johns and Holbrook before joining the U.S. Naval Air Force in 1952 during the Korean War. He served as the ordnance man flying in B-26s and graduated from Aviation Gunnery School. He was highly decorated. He took his horse "Copper" from the ranch to San Diego so he could rodeo, entering calf roping, saddle bronc and bare back bronc riding while in the Navy. Using his education degree, his first school assignment was a little country school Cienega or Crow Flats School just north of Dell City, Texas, with the Alamogordo, N.M., Public School. He then accepted a teaching and coaching position at Springerville and Eagar schools known as the Round Valley School District. He was the Apache County 4H director and served on the Arizona 4H Foundation Board. Later he was called by God to go into the Christian ministry and attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where he was awarded a master's degree in religious education and a minor in theology. He had accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior while in college at NMSU serving as chaplain of the AGR Fraternity. He pastored Southern Baptist churches in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Colorado and Wyoming, pastoring the Southern Baptist Church in Newcastle, Wyo., for many years. Al had been inspired by his mother to learn old cowboy songs and to play the guitar, which he continued to do throughout his life. He wrote and recorded songs at the Norman Petty Studio in Clovis, N.M., with Sunshine Records and the Listen Label, one with Bill Munroe and Don Powell. Two of his songs made Billboards Top 20. He wrote and performed cowboy poetry and songs at cowboy symposiums and gatherings throughout the West. He had recently bought three horses for his great-grandchildren to ride and show in 4H. Al is survived by son Ron Howe (Theresa) of Chugwater, Wyo.; four granddaughters, Elaine and Kevin White of Gilbert, Carolie and Steve Pollack of Chugwater, Wyo., Melanie and R.J. Minnick of Casper, Wyo., and Raynee and Joe Hernandez of Chugwater, Wyo.; and 16 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are brothers Edgar Joe Sims of Roswell, N.M., Robert Richard and Billie Sims of Queen, N.M., James Ray and Toni Sims of Bozeman, Mont., and sister Betty Louise Sims Solt of Roswell, N.M.; aunt Ilene Sims Sweigard, Barstow, Calif., brothers-in-law J.T. and Gene Call, Ladonia, Texas, Orville and Joyce Call, Austin, Texas, sisters-in-law Peggy and Phil Klein, Mineola, Texas and Ann Zenkner, Mineola, Texas; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by wife Geraldine "Jerry" Sims in January 2008. Services will be Friday, June 20, at Worden Chapel at 10 a.m. with Rev. Norm Brotzman of Newcastle Assembly Of God Church officiating assisted by associate pastor Tyler Sims of Moberly, Miss. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, S.D., with military honors by the Sturgis Honor Guard. Donations are suggested to Wyoming American Heart Association or charity of the donor's choice. Worden Funeral Directors of Newcastle, Wyo., handled arrangements.