Robert Neal Carson

Neal was a devoted and beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, whose strong faith and loving guidance through the years positively influenced his family members, friends and many individuals in the community.

Neal was born November 1, 1927 in Greeley, Colorado to Roy and Mary Carson. He attended both College High School and Greeley High School, where he graduated in May 1945. He enrolled at Colorado State College of Education, and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1949. Neal was a member of the Lambda Gamma Kappa fraternity and Blue Key at Colorado State College of Education.

In January 1950, he accepted a position in the Poudre School District in Fort Collins, teaching social studies and English at the old Lincoln Junior High School.

On August 25, 1952, Neal married Anita “Nita” C. Choate at the City Park Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado. They are parents to twins Susan L. Hendrickson of Loveland Colorado, and Scott R. Carson of Ridgway, Colorado, and a second son, James R. Carson of Anchorage, Alaska.

In the fall of 1953, he was assigned to teach the same subjects at Fort Collins High School, eventually becoming Director of Activities and Assistant Principal.

In 1964, he received a Master’s Degree in History and Political Science from Colorado State University. He was selected for membership in the scholastic honorary society Phi Kappa Phi.

In 1968, he was appointed as Assistant Principal at the newly-opened Blevins Junior High School, where he remained until his retirement in 1986, retiring after 37 years of service in the Poudre School District.

Neal and Nita belonged to several local churches, the last one being Drake Christian Church in Fort Collins.

He was a long-standing member of the Downtown Rotary Club, and served as President in 1973-1974. The family enjoyed visiting the Choate family ranch in Evergreen Colorado during the summers. Neal and Nita enjoyed several trips abroad as well as throughout the United States.

He enjoyed fishing with his friends Ted R. Blevins, Wayne Linton, Hal Kinard, Ron Sisson and Ted R. Blevins, Jr. on the Poudre River and the lakes surrounding Cameron Pass. He enjoyed many years playing golf with several retired Poudre School District administrators and CSU Professors, a group he jokingly referred to as “The Old Fossils.”

Neal and Nita appreciated living near the Rocky Mountains where they hiked many trails together.

Neal is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nita, three children, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Roy and Mary Carson, brothers Donald Carson, Dr. Deane Carson and his sister Janet Bodie.

A Celebration of Life will be held on July 15, 2016 at 1:00 PM at Drake Road Christian Church, 608 E Drake Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80525.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in the name of R. Neal Carson to the Poudre School District Foundation, http://psdfoundation.org/