Keith Allen Simpson

Keith Allen Simpson of Longmont, passed away following a courageous battle with lung cancer on October 14, 2018, aged 81 years. Keith was born on January 12, 1937, in Brush, Colorado, to John A. and Gertrude B. Simpson. He had two older siblings: twins John O. Simpson and Joyce Lee Simpson, who were born January 6, 1932. The family lived in Cope, Colorado, until the fall of 1941, when John A. Simpson became the superintendent of Aurora Colorado schools and the family moved to Aurora. In the fall of 1947, the family moved to Eads, Colorado, where he met Verta Belle Koch in junior high school and they dated throughout high school. Keith was the valedictorian of his 1954 Eads High School class of 18 students and he received a scholarship to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder. Keith and Verta were married in Eads, Colorado, at the Evangelical United Brethren Church on June 17, 1956. Graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1958, with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education, Keith took a position in Burlington, Colorado, in the fall of 1958, to teach band grades 5-12 and direct the choir. His groups at Burlington High School received top ratings at contests over the years and the band attended many Boulder Band Days at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Keith never forgot the wonderful parent and community support received by the music programs in Burlington. He also directed the choir at the Methodist Church in Burlington. In August of 1967, the family moved to Longmont, Colorado, where Keith taught instrumental music grades 5-9 in the St. Vrain Valley school district. He taught at Longmont Junior High, Northeast Junior High and at several elementary schools in the district. In August 1969, he completed his Master of Arts in Music Education at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Keith spent most of his teaching career at Longs Peak Junior High/Middle School in Longmont, and closed out his teaching career at Mead Middle School, retiring in 1992, after 34 years. He was inducted into the Colorado Music Educators Association Hall of Fame on January 19, 2007. A plaque commemorating this lifetime achievement hangs in the Warner Imig Music building at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Keith directed the choir at the First Methodist Church in Longmont, directed a community singing group called the Choralaires, and played clarinet for many years in the Longmont Symphony. He participated or directed many local performances of Handel's Messiah during the Christmas holidays. Additionally, Keith directed the Longmont Community Band for two years and later played clarinet in the Longmont Concert Band, after it was formed. Until health issues prevented him from doing so, he participated in the Boulder Concert Band and the Fort Collins Foothill Pops Band. Keith became politically active in the Colorado Education Association and served two terms as president of the St. Vrain Valley Education Assoc. He served on the Colorado Education Association Political Action Committee, volunteered for the Longmont Council for the Arts, and served for many years on the Longmont Transportation Advisory Board. Keith is survived by his wife, Verta, of 62 years and children Michael D. (Lucy), Deborah K. Stewart (David), Steven R. (Denise) and Kevin A. (Sonja) and grandchildren Andrew Garcia, Sean Simpson, Jaron Simpson, Alyssa Simpson, Anne Stewart, Laura Stewart, Patrick Simpson, Ryan Simpson, JJ Aulsebrook, Lily Simpson, and Tyler Simpson. Keith was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister but is also survived by an aunt, Lila Simpson, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. A Celebration of Keith's life will be held at 10:30 am Saturday, November 3, 2018, at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, 326 Terry Street, Longmont, Colorado. A viewing will be available from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm Friday, November 2, 2018, also at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, for those wishing to pay respects. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Keith's memory be made to the Longmont Concert Band or the Ft Collins Foothills Pops Band.