Lassie Jo Rounds Simms (92), lovingly known as Grams and Great Grams, of Auburn, AL, died peacefully on June 4 at Oak Park Nursing Home. On Sunday, June 10, she was laid to rest in a private family burial at Memorial Park Cemetery in Auburn. Lassie Jo was born on May 21, 1926, in Gadsden, Alabama to Annie Paul Moon and Glenn Leroy Rounds, Sr. Her father left when she was a baby, and she was reared by her mother and grandparents, Lola Barfield and Lindsay Renfro Moon. She attended first through eleventh grades in Cullman, AL, and graduated from Gadsden High School in 1944. She received a Bachelors Degree in secretarial science from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) in Summer 1947. While working as a typist/writer on the college newspaper, The Plainsman, she met her future husband, Jack Simms. They married on December 21, 1947. Upon graduation, she worked as Secretary to the Registrar of API. In 1949, she was Secretary to Head of the Department of Social Welfare at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA, while Jack worked on his Masters Degree in Journalism. The couple moved to Atlanta, GA, in 1951 where Jack began a career with the Associated Press. Lassie Jo worked as Secretary to the Assistant Head of the Engineering Research Station at Georgia Institute of Technology. In 1954, she "retired" from her job to focus on being a full-time mother and wife. Jacks work with the AP took the family to Tampa, FL, Louisville, KY, Boston, MA, and Stamford, CT, where Jack worked at Rockefeller Center in New York City. While in Boston, she was office manager for Harriet Hoctors School of Ballet (former star of Ziegfeld Follies). In 1974, Jack became the first Department Head of Journalism for Auburn University, and they lived in Auburn the remainder of their lives. Lassie Jo worked for Jack as an editorial assistant for The Olympic Games News Collection Pool for the Associated Press at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. She worked on and created the index for the 1981 book, Auburn: A Pictorial History of the Loveliest Village, authored by Jack and Mickey Logue. At API, Lassie Jo was a member of Beta Xi Chapter of Delta Zeta, secretary of the Womens Student Government Association and a member of Oracles and Owls honor societies. She served as secretary and vice president of the Auburn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Zeta and as the DZ Province Alumnae Director. She was a member of The University Club, Auburn Cotillion Club, president of Auburn Fasching Club, secretary and vice president of Auburn University Campus Club, advisor of The Newcomers Club, secretary and vice president for the Auburn Music Club, a member of the Auburn Music Club Singers, the Auburn Garden Club, various bridge clubs and was a charter member of the Auburn Arts Association. Lassie Jo was an accomplished seamstress and could sew anything. She was invaluable as seamstress and backstage manager for The Nutcracker productions and recitals for daughter Janes dance studio, Love Academy of Dance. She was an accomplished pianist and first-chair clarinet in the Alabama State High School Band. She enjoyed college football, watching old movies, hanging wallpaper, cooking, and she knitted the family Christmas stockings. Jo was an animal lover who spoiled her Schnauzers and Yorkies and enjoyed feeding the birds and deer in her yard. She was proud to be a part of Jacks 2-F-23 Marine family. She was happiest when she could have a long lunch with family and sit and visit all day. Lassie Jo is survived by her daughter, Jane Moon Simms Love, son-in-law, Thomas Alan Love, granddaughter, April Jo Love, great-grandson, Jack Thomas Booth, all of Vestavia Hills, AL, and her dog, JJ (15 years old). She was preceded in death by her husband, John Donald "Jack" Simms of Auburn, her son, John Matthews Simms, and her brother, Glenn Leroy Rounds, Jr., of Stockholm, Sweden, formerly of New York City.