Auburn Clayton Sims

Shawnee resident Auburn Clayton Sims, 100, passed away on Thursday, November 14 at his home. Auburn was born June 13, 1919, in Yell County, Arkansas, to Darlin and Carrie (Vinson) Sims. Auburn married Audra Lee in Muskogee, on January 31, 1937. He enlisted the Army during World War II, when he was 24 years old in spite of the fact that he was exempt of the draft. Auburn felt it was his duty to serve. In his career Auburn was an auto body mechanic for Chevy, Ford and Dodge, before operating his own body shop.Auburn was a tinkerer, whether he was welding or building, plumbing or doing electrical work, he was always busy. He also created ways to better complete a task, which led to him inventing many of his own tools. A longtime member of Temple Baptist Church, one of Auburn’s proudest achievements was the fact that he’d raised a Christian family, who took his Christian values and applied them to their own lives. Auburn was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a son, Richard; three brothers; three sisters; and two sons-in-law. He is survived by his daughters and son-in-law, Roberta and Delbert Duy of Shawnee, and Judy Hollan of Van Buren, Arkansas; grandchildren, David and Tammy Gallagher, Becky and Randy Burkhead, Samuel and Kristal Grounds, and Heath and Mary Beckham; 14 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchildren; and many other family and friends. Services for Auburn will be Saturday, November 16 at 11:00 AM at the Walker Funeral Service Chapel in Shawnee with Rev Mike Craig officiating. Burial will be at 3:00 PM at Green Hill Cemetery in Muskogee.