Byford Joy (BJ) Simkins, 61, passed away February 9, 2012 after a five year battle with leukemia. Byford was born February 26, 1950 in Lampe, MO to Alvie and Carmie (Hollars) Simkins. He lived in the Ozarks all his life, but preferred to call Springfield home. He loved and cherished his constant four-legged companions, Wilma and Charlie Brown. His favorite pastimes were being on the lake, renovating his boats, making smoothies for his grandkids, and running his business testing electrical meters. He was an adventurous inventor. His way of looking at things was, "If it isn't broken, it can be made even better." He was preceded in death by his father and mother, and older brother, Kerby Joe (Berryville). He is survived by two sons and their families; Brett and his wife Kimberly, and their children Tiffany, Timothy, and Heather (Mt. Vernon); and Anthony and his wife Ruby Rose, and their children Kyler, Kaitlyn, Alyssa, Marah, Danielle, and David (Springfield); Sharon Simkins wife of Kerby Joe; and four siblings; Carolyn Watts (Branson), Harold and his wife Joy Sue (Osage, Arkansas), Harley and his wife Pam (Lampe, Missouri), Connie Simkins/Atchley and her husband Clyde (Harrison, Arkansas); and several beloved nephews and nieces.