Arthur Jefferson Sims

May 29, 1937 – April 18, 2023

Arthur Jefferson Sims, 85, went to be with his Lord on April 18, 2023, at home. He was married to Lesa Martin Sims for 18 years.

Born in Greensboro, Alabama, he was the son of Jefferson Blount Sims and Annie Laurie Pugh-Castle. He attended language mission training with the Plymouth Brethren and was involved in a church planting in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Later he pastored three Spanish speaking churches in California and the Portland, Oregon area. Preaching the gospel was his avocation, and he worked multiple jobs to support his ministry, including selling ceramics, being an orderly at Good Samaritan Hospital and doing customer service for Norm Thompson.

Art was a member of Camas Church of the Nazarene for 18 years and was active in teaching Bible classes and helping with Vacation Bible School for several years. He was an accomplished self-taught artist, working primarily in acrylics. In addition to being bilingual in Spanish, he studied and could share Bible verses in eleven different languages. Known as the ‘walking Bible’, his knowledge and passion for the Word of God guided every aspect of his life.

He is survived by his wife Lesa, son Timothy (and Bonita) Sims, daughter Angela Sims, son Jeffrey (and Monika) Sims, four stepchildren, three granddaughters, seventeen step grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Freeman and Gary Sims, and his beloved wife Ruth.

The celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 29th at 1:00 pm at Camas Church of the Nazarene, 2204 Birch Street, Camas, Washington.