Nan Simmons Muir

Nan Simmons Muir, age 99, of Boyle MS, passed away on January 4, 2024, at the Jackson Madison County General Hospital. A graveside service will be held at New Cleveland Cemetery in Cleveland, MS, at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 11, 2024, officiated by Rev. Tim Starnes. She was the second of identical twins born on November 25, 1924, to Nell and Bernard Simmons in Magnolia, MS.  Due to the early deaths of their parents, they were raised in Cleveland, MS, by their uncle William Wyatt Simmons(Mary).  Nan and her twin sister, Sarah, graduated high school in 1942, and both graduated from Mississippi State College for Women in 1945 with a BS degree in Secretarial Science. Initially, Nan worked for Standard Oil Company, but later moved back to Cleveland, MS.  She was introduced to Dr. Eric Muir by close friends, and they married on March 15, 1956.  They resided in  Boyle, MS,  where they raised their three children. Nan and Eric were a devoted Christian couple, both members of the First Presbyterian Church in Cleveland and later charter members of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland.  Nan loved her fellowship with her church friends, and was an avid reader of scripture.
Nan always enjoyed light verse with her favorite writers being Ogden Nash and Dr. Seuss.  In high school, it became apparent that rhyming was much easier and more fun than writing prose and so began her career as a writer of verse for special occasions.  She was always willing and challenged to write in verse for special occasions-birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas cards, wedding, etc.  Nan was a wonderful homemaker-enjoyed cooking, needlepoint, knitting, sewing, crocheting and most of all nurturing her family.  After their children were grown, she began medical transcription which she loved and continued until age 85.
Nan was preceded in death by daughter, Sara “Sally” Phyllis Muir; husband of 63yrs, Morton Eric Muir, OD; parents, Nell and Bernard Simmons; brother, Bernell Eustis Simmons, DDS and his wife, Bess; sister, Sarah Simmons East and her husband, Charles; nephew, Charles East, Jr.; uncle, William Wyatt Simmons and his wife, Mary; brother-in-law, Chris Connor Muir; sister-in-law, Desima Dean Willeford and her husband, Willie.
Nan is survived by son, Eric Wyatt Muir, MD(Betty); son, Edward Simmons Muir, MD(Izzi); granddaughter, Sara Muir Smigielski, PharmD (Danny); grandson, Christopher Eric Muir; great-grandson, Wyatt Christopher Muir; great-grandson, Luke Daniel Smigielski; great-grandson, Eli Joseph Smigielski; sister-in-law, Marge Eichelberger Muir; three nieces and five nephews. 
The family requests memorials be made to the Sara Phyllis Muir Scholarship Fund, Office of Development, Belhaven College, 1500 Peachtree Street, Jackson, MS 39202 or Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, MS.