JR Sims

July 28, 1974 - January 19, 2022

ATHOL- JR Sims, 47, of Athol, passed away on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at Athol Memorial Hospital. JR was born in Fitchburg on July 28, 1974, son of Ronald and Donna Rae (Espisito) Sims of Lunenburg. “My heart has joined the Thousand, for my friend stopped running today” Richard Adams, Watership Down JR grew up in the small town of Lunenburg Massachusetts where he loved to wander the woods with his imagination, his closest friends, brothers, and read every book he could get his hands on. He graduated from Lunenburg High School in 1992. After high school he worked several odd jobs until finding his niche caring for his family. He enjoyed paying attention to politics, listening to NPR, consuming history and constitutional knowledge, all things Sci-fi, anime, and graphic novels/comics. He worked as a forklift driver until his children were born, went on to work as a stay at home father, and then as a personal care attendant providing essential care for those in need. Caring for his family was his primary concern and his love and support helped his entire family to grow and blossom. Anyone who knew JR was affectionately charmed by his intelligence, his passion for justice, his unique humor, and his selflessness. All of his close friends and family knew every day that he thought of them as he was known to send funny memes or interesting stories to them all to brighten their day. JR lived his life with a strong sense of honor for those he loved. He cherished his children and loved his wife Melanie Sims above all else. He was always there to make sure their needs were met, teach them of the world, to lend a hand, or make them laugh. He will forever be cherished by those who have known him. His family and friends are deeply saddened by his sudden passing. Hail the Traveler In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife of 24 years of togetherness and 13 years of marriage, Melanie Sims; a son, Hunter Sims of Swanzey, NH; five daughters, Brittney Marciw of Gardner, Brianna Marciw of Lunenburg, Kaylin Jones (Novak) of Westminster, Kyra Ringler of Augusta, ME, and Talia Sims of Athol; seven grandchildren, Brayden Brooks, Alec Brooks, Malakai Baez, Layla Kitteridge, Isla Kitteridge, Jaycee Jones, and Easton Jones; His older brother Garet Sims of Valciro, FL and predeceased by his younger brother Jonathan Sims in 2003; his mother in law and father in law, Karen Hastings and Francis Hastings Jr of Arroyo, CA; his aunts, Debra Lynn Esposito of Leominster MA, Darlene Steele of Lunenburg, MA, Dara Lee Esposito of Leominster MA, and Sharon Flodin of Moscow, Idaho; his uncles, Robert W. Sims of Juneau, Alaska and Sammy McKeehan of Moscow, Idaho; a brother in law, Sean Hastings of Thousand Oaks, CA; two sister in laws, Tina Frazee of Warner, NH, and April Hastings of Thousand Oaks, CA; five nieces and nephews, Hailey Sims of Valciro, FL, Jacob Sims of Valciro, FL, Sam Frazee of Warner, NH, Lauren and Natalie Hastings of Thousand Oaks, CA; and many cousins, great close friends, and extended family. He is Predeceased by both Grandparents - Hubert and Irma Ann (Garfield) Sims and James and Mary (Copp) Esposito. Please join the family for A Celebration of Life scheduled for July 30th, 2022 at 2:00pm, The Stone House at Coggshall Park 159 Electric Ave, Fitchburg, MA 01420. The family requests that you please provide a book title that you recall he loved Mack Family Funeral Homes-Simard Funeral Home, 14 Walker Street, Leominster, is assisting with arrangements. Kevin J. Mack and Walter C. Taylor.