Mary E. Simonsen

Mary E. Simonsen, 79, of Longmont passed away peacefully on August 23, 2012 at Longmont United Hospital.She was born February 27, 1933 to Everett and (Frances) Ethel Newberry in Denver, CO where she grew up. Mary graduated from East High School in 1951. When she was 16 she met her future husband, Charles J. Simonsen. They were married on January 3, 1954 in Denver and they then moved to Longmont.She was a co-founder of the Tiny Tim Center, which started in 1956 as a chance for disabled children to go to school with typical students. It began with three students, including her son Jay. Mary loved working with children with special needs so much.She was a charter member of the Potpourri Players which grew over the many years from a fundraiser for the LUH Auxiliary, to become the Longmont Theater Company. Mary loved to make people laugh. This led to her opening her own singing telegram business called, Mary's Merrygrams. She was best known for her role as Tweedy Bird; so much that her grandchildren referred to her as Grandma Tweedy Bird.Mary later went to work for the company that was laying the cable for cable television in Longmont and promoting Scripts Howard Cable. She continued on as a sales representative for Scripts Howard, which later became Comcast. She retired in the late 1990's.She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers Charles Newberry and George Newberry.Mary is survived by her husband of 58 years Charles J. Simonsen and their three children: Charles Jay Simonsen of Longmont, Mark Simonsen of Frederick and Kelley Simonsen of Longmont, former daughter-in-law Melodie (Ron) Simonsen Friedman of Bondorf Germany, five grandchildren Marsha (Ben) Clarke of Frederick, Melynda Roberts of the Community of Reunion, Commerce City, CO, Mindy (Kyle) Sandoval of Greenville, SC, Marissa (Joshua) Clarke of Pearl Harbor, HI and Levi Stone of Longmont; five great grandchildren William and Matthew Clarke of Frederick, CO, Dawson and Lucas Clarke of Pearl Harbor, HI and Lennon Sandoval of Greenville, SC. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Carolyn Newberry of Kirkwood, MO and Luanna Waldron of Boston, MA and several nieces, nephews, cousins and honorary grandchildren.Memorial services will be held 11:00am Wednesday, August 29, 2012 at Central Presbyterian Church, with Reverend David Barker officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Tiny Tim Center in care of Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. Cremation at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel and Crematory.