Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

Miss Pat had an active social life outside of her work at the Court. She recalls numerous social clubs, piano bars, and other venues where she could dance and enjoy musical events with her friends. The Peabody Skyway, or tea dances at the Moose and Shriner’s club were among the places she enjoyed visiting with her friends. She had never taken dance lessons but learned ballroom dance basic steps and technique through practice with her friends. Dance was also important to her family, and she frequently went to dance events with her mother. Miss Pat traveled extensively visiting Europe, Hawaii, and Mexico. She frequently traveled (at least twice a year) to Branson, MO where one of her favorite venues was the Shoji Tabuchi Theater. After 34 years of service to the Criminal Court system, she retired in 2010. After retiring she continued dancing at different Memphis Senior Centers. She remembers weekly rotating events at McWherter, Lewis, and other senior centers where she met friends and enjoyed dancing and music events. Then the pandemic happened and destroyed the vibrant Memphis senior social environment. The recovery was slow and to this day has not returned to the frequency of events available in the past. In 2022 Miss Pat decided to move to Kirby Pines on her pastor’s advice since she had no family members available to care for her should she need assistance with daily activities. The availability of LifeCare also strongly contributed to her decision. She moved into an apartment in April 2023. She enjoys the many activities Kirby offers, including Friday night entertainment, excursions with the Travelers, and exercise classes in the PAC twice a week. She reports, “I feel safe.” When visiting friends comment on the beauty of the Kirby grounds and environment, she is proud she chose to live here. Although slowed somewhat by health issues she continues to dance, taking private lessons from Richard Bishop twice a month. Written by Leora Elli, Resident, Kirby Pines The Pinecone | September 2026 • 7 • Miss Pat was born in the small rural community of Dewitt, Arkansas in the same house where her mother was born. The family later moved to Marvel, AK before moving to Memphis, TN when she was 6. The family moved into a home in Midtown at Cooper and Peabody where she lived for 25 years before moving to a duplex in North Memphis on Garland where she then lived for 50 years. She attended Lenox grade school and Fairview Junior High School. (She welcomed a sister into the family while in junior high.) After graduation from Tech High School, she was offered a bookkeeping position at the Frost Arnett Collection agency. She worked as a bookkeeper at various companies for 5 years before joining the Neurosurgical Group of Methodist Hospital where she remained for 15 years. While working at the Neurosurgical Group she decided to begin a training program in the evening to become a court reporter. After completing the two-year course of study, she joined the staff of the Criminal Court Division at 201 Poplar. The duties of a court reporter are challenging but can also be dangerous. Her prominent presence sitting before the judge’s bench occasionally required, during more notorious cases, she be escorted to her car at the end of the day to assure her safety. While working as a court reporter she continued to pursue educational goals. Her love of learning and the encouragement of a friend inspired her to enroll in general education (core) courses at Memphis State University at the age of 42. She completed one course every semester for five years. STAYING ACTIVE AND SOCIAL Resident Spotlight: Pat Simmons Miss Pat in the 90s “When visiting friends comment on the beauty of the Kirby grounds and environment, she is proud she chose to live here”. Pat & Cheryl Wood at last year’s Memphis Most Celebration