Andrew David Louis

In 2002 as David was preparing for an aortic valve replacement he created a template for an obituary for himself in case he did not survive the proposed 15 hour surgery. Fortunately for all who loved him he survived the operation well for 13 years. A great deal of the following information, however, comes from the 2002 draft. David knew himself well.

Although born in San Antonio, Texas David grew up in Houston, Texas graduating from San Jacinto High School in 1966 and South Texas Junior College in 1967. A typical boy of the 50’s David focused on playing Cowboys and Indians in the neighborhood, absorbing the lore, movies and rodeos of The West, target shooting with his beloved BB gun, becoming a Boy Scout, immersing himself in the history of WWII and offering challenging games of chess to any willing victim. He was an altar boy at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church where he studied and received his God and Country Award. From the age of twelve on he consistently had weekend work as an usher at the Village Movie Theater and as a corner newspaper seller for the Houston Post on Saturday nights. His lifelong habit of working hard at whatever he did started at an early age.

When he left for the University of Wyoming in 1968 David said a permanent farewell to the heat and humidity of Houston and thoroughly embraced the life of The West. After graduating from the University in August of 1969 David and the love of his life, Katherine O’Donnell of Laramie, Wyoming married on September 10, 1969 in Denver, Colorado.

David enlisted in the United States Army on October 31, 1969 and served in the U.S. Army Staff Judge Advocate General Corps as a Legal Specialist until 1971.

David and Kate established a permanent home in Erie, Colorado in 1976. During his career years David worked first as an officer in the Erie Police Department and later as a patrol officer. In 1978 he accepted employment with the U.S. Department of Commerce where he worked until his retirement in September 1999. During his years with the government he served aa vice-president and then president of the American Federation of Government Employees. After his retirement David worked for several years as an armed security officer with Buckley Air Base.

During his nine to five years and on until the time of his death David concentrated on a second, passionate “career” of political and social involvement in his community. He believed strongly in the American values of service to one’s country, community and to one’s neighbors. In 1982, he ran for the Office of Mayor of Erie, Colorado and won election in April of that year to a 2-year term. He ran for re-election, unopposed in 1984 and served a second 2-year term. David unabashedly loved politics.

While serving as Mayor David also served on the Erie Planning Commission. Always an advocate for economic progress in Erie, David staunchly supported the annexation of the Horst Landfill in June of 1984. This successful annexation provided the cash-strapped town of Erie with much needed funding in the form of municipal “gate” or “tipping” fees from each trash truck that used the Horst Landfill.

In later years David strongly opposed the “No Growth” and “Slow Growth” advocates who stood in the way of such positive developments as Vista Ridge, a mixed commercial and residential community on Colorado Highway 7 and The Erie Commons Project, a second mixed residential and commercial project. Never one to avoid social action, he worked hard during the 2000 and 2002 election campaigns to help bring about successful voter acceptance of both projects.

David was a past member of the Erie Lions Club and at his death was a current member of the Erie Post 2000 of the American Legion and the NRA.

On Sunday, April 26, 2015 David passed away at the Hospice at McKee Medical Center in Loveland, Co after a four-week illness. The family would like to extend its gratitude and appreciation for the tender care that David received from the doctors and staffs at Longmont United Hospital, the Medical Center of the Rockies and the Hospice at McKee Medical Center in Loveland, CO.

David was predeceased by his parents, Andrew and Virginia Louis as well as by his beloved son, Eric David Louis. A family burial was held on Friday, May 1, 2015 at Mountain View Cemetary in Longmont, Co where David was laid to rest next to Eric.

He is survived by his loving wife, Katherine and their son, Brandon M., a daughter Patria Louis by a prior marriage, his sister, Julie Baker and her family of Houston, TX and other beloved relatives and friends. David is also survived by his many, many friends. The outpouring of love and support from one and all has been wonderful and greatly appreciated by the family.

A Memorial Service and Reception will be held at Howe Mortuary on Monday, May 18, 2015 at 3 p.m.

Donations in David’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or by mail to The Wounded Warrior Project, PO 758, Topeka, KS 66675 would be greatly appreciated by the family. Please also consider adding your thoughts, memories and stories of David online at www.howemortuary.com