Simon Roland DeSoto, 69, of Bay City passed away January 9, 2025.  He was born August 21, 1955 to the late Foster DeSoto and Rose DeSoto.

Simon graduated from Bay City High School, where he played baseball, in 1973. In 2018, he was inducted as a Distinguished Alumnus of the school.

Simon served the US Army Corps of Engineers for more than forty years in the Galveston District. He was recognized by the US Department of the Army with the Superior Civilian Service Award, the third highest award awarded by the department to civilians, and by the Commander of the US Coast Guard for Outstanding Waterway Management. The highlight of his career came when he was selected as one of the 100 most influential members of the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association at their 100-year anniversary celebration.

Simon was also recognized by the International Boating and Water Safety Summit and US Congress for his water safety advocacy.

He sat on numerous boards in Matagorda County and worked in countless ways for the community he loved. Over the years, Simon served as Fire Marshal, EMS Director, and Fire Chief for Matagorda Volunteer Fire Department and as a Deputy Constable in Matagorda County.

As part of his strong faith, Simon loved to share gospel music and was CEO of Texas Gospel Music Barn Ministries.

Simon took great pride in broadcasting his radio show on Happy Radio 92.5 FM and was a member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.

One of his greatest loves was football. He was the voice of Bay City Blackcat Football for over 30 years, broadcasting alongside Roland Orsak for several of those years and Tommy Griffin for the last nine.

When he was not serving in the community, Simon's greatest joy was in spending time with his family. He was a beloved husband, stepfather, father-in-law, and grandfather known affectionately as Poppy by his grandkids.

Simon was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Carlene Griffith, and his brother Junior DeSoto. Survivors include his wife Diana Lynn Taylor DeSoto; children Natalie Friesenhahn (Darren) and Paul Ryan Remlinger (Bethany); grandchildren Dawson Friesenhahn, Grant Friesenhahn, Julianne Friesenhahn, Aaron Remlinger and Norah Remlinger; and nephew Ron Proffer (Terressa).

Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM Thursday, January 16, 2025 at Calvary Baptist Church. Funeral service will be at 2:00 PM with Pastors Lane Par-Due and Del Toler officiating. Pallbearers will be Paul Ryan Remlinger, Darren Friesenhahn, Grant Friesenhahn, Robert Taylor, Robert Kyle Taylor, and Tim Lankau.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America at myasthenia.givevirtuous.org/donate

CLICK HERE TO DONATE