I found out yesterday that Colene Simmons has passed away. Many of you probably knew Colene from many archery shoots she attended in the Eastern and Southeastern US with her 3 legged dog Jack(Tripod). Colene was a rough looking woman but she had a heart of gold. One of the most generous people I ever met. She was an excellent archer, owned a shoe repair shop in Tennessee, was a Marine fighter pilot and later an airline pilot until epilepsy ended her career.
If you knew Colene you laughed hard every time you saw her. She was funny, talented and as sweet and generous a person you've ever met. I only get to see Colene once or twice a year and will sadly miss her, her rough demeanor, her generosity and her rye, off color wit.
RIP my friend. Until we meet again.
I met Colene a couple of times and shot with her. You are so correct, she appeared a bit rough but was very nice and a pleasure to talk to. She was a unique person. RIP.
I considered her a good friend, one of a kind and as generous as they come. From what I can pick up off of Facebook she died suddenly while watching TV.
She flew a cargo plane in Vietnam, she said they didn't let women fly in combat missions during that era.
Colene;
I never met the lady. Sounds like a good person to have your six. May the perpetual light of Christ shine on Colene's heart and soul. May she eternally rest in the peace of Christ.
Met her at Mojam. She camped next to Mudd and myself. She wanted to shoot her bow near camp. Mudd grabbed a target and said "here, shoot this". She did. Mudd had it in his had and was still walking! She surely was something. :)
Colene was one of a kind and a true treasure. She could and did captivate an audiences with her tall tales. I never doubted for a second that as wild as they sounded that they were the truth.
She was one of the very few people that left me speechless. I was trying to one up her by showing her that I was ready to shoot anywhere because I had brought my eternity target along.
I picked up the target and was telling her as much while turning to face her. I think the arrow was already on it's way to the target....lol
It was funny to everyone standing there except me....lol I seemed to have lost my train of thought and my voice.
God speed and bless you my friend. You will be missed by more than just those from Sneedville Tenn.
:archer:
God bless,Mudd
:archer2:
Rip Colene.
I met Colene about 4-5 years ago at the Spring Fling and Howard Hill at Tannehill State Park, AL. Didn't know her well but knew that she had a love and appreciation for kids.
Once we had stop on the course, as the trail had backed up with other shooters and she took time to show the self bow she had made.
Another time while at the IBO Traditional Championship at Twin Oaks torwsrds the end of the trail me and another shooter met up with Colene as we exited the course. We had small talk and after she had left he began to tell me of her feats as a Marine pilot and later an commercial pilot.
You just never know what others have to share unless you take a little time to know them😞
Condolences
I was shooting one of the courses at The Tenn. Classic years ago with Steve, Tina and Cody Parker and Colene. Cody was about 9. Colene was giving Cody shooting pointers and handing Cody arrows from her quiver and he would sent it to the wild blue yonder. Colene would pull out another arrow and give it to Cody. By the end of the course Colene's quiver was empty so she just went back to her camper and got more arrows.
The first time I met Colene was at the North Carolina Trad Championship near Hickory, NC. A few of us were hanging around one evening when Colene walked up with a crossbow she had made. We asked her about it and she said it pulled 150# and she easily cocked it and shot it into the nearby bank. She told us the prod on the crossbow was made from a leaf spring from a golf cart that she had shaped and tillered with a file.
:pray: May she shoot every course in Heaven.........
Believe me Ron, she's already started organizing that. :thumbsup:
would have loved to have met her :campfire:
Colene was one of a kind, and it looks like a lot of us appreciated that. She was formidable against a challenge, yet very kind and giving in a friendship.
At one time she offered Karen and I an industrial sewing machine for our business of making bow quivers, etc. I told her that I didn't know when I might be in that part of the country (Sneedville, Tn.) and that it would be to expensive to ship it. Well, at the next shoot she said that she had something for me in her vehicle. Lo and behold it was the sewing machine. She would not take money for the machine, but we couldn't just take advantage of her friendship. Later on at this same event we gave her a choice of quivers, and vowed to give her a quiver of her choice every time we saw her at an event. Over a period of several years she accumulated, and probably gave away several of our (EFA) quivers to friends and family. After all, she was greatly responsible for us getting into the bow quiver business. Thanks Colene and we'll miss you. :archer2:
Sorry for y'all's loss! Sounded like a sweet and courages woman who will be missed!
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Something funny happened this Sunday morning. I was feeling a little down because of some health issues that kept me from going to church. I decided to read from the Bible instead. While paging through the good book, I read some of the prayers from the passing of friends and family. The last one ended with, " I see the garden gate, now nearer to my eyes, I am guided toward it, comfort in every step. I see the garden's radiance, It's warming light is vast. The gate is now open and I am home at last".
Turning to the next page I saw one of our business cards and wondered why it was there. Turning it over, I discovered why it was there. In her clear writting was the name "Colene Simmons" and her phone and email address. The coincidence of that seemed difficult to believe. Thanks Colene!
Quote from: goobersan on February 23, 2019, 11:26:21 AM
would have loved to have met her :campfire:
Yeah....me too!.. :archer:
Colene was one of a kind. Once you met her, she was one of those folks you just never forget. Talk about a diamond in the rough! :thumbsup:
True friends are hard to lose, but with faith we will meet them again.
I was blessed to meet Colene somewhere along the trail some years back. It was probably a MOJAM. As others have pointed out, she was generous, kind and just a tad rough around the edges. I only shot arrows with her one time, but got to shoot the bull several times over the years. Last time I saw her was at the IBO Worlds in '17 at Twin Oaks. We enjoyed getting caught up, she chastised me for letting work get in the way of tinkering with bows, she was in her element and having a blast. I'm happy to have had the chance to get to know her a bit.
Godspeed Colene.