Tom Simpson, a fine man, was the fifth of six children of Margie and John O Simpson. Born on October 24, 1961, he and his siblings were raised in a Leave it to Beaver style upbringing in Boulder Colorado. They attended Columbine Elementary, Casey Junior High and Boulder High. Growing up they spent a lot of time with their grandparents in eastern Colorado. Time was spent fishing, putting pennies on the railroad tracks and riding bicycles in the dirt. With many other relatives who were farmers and ranchers in eastern Colorado, the kids assumed being called a Honyoker by Grandma Hoepner was a compliment. As Tom grew older, he learned that was not the case, it being a derogatory term the cattlemen called the sod buster farmers. Tom’s life as a child was influenced by these second-generation homesteaders who lived through the dust bowl and the bank failures in the 1930s. He was taught to work hard, take care of his toys and save his money.

Tom’s father was an aerospace engineer with Ball Aerospace. As a child he learned about spin balancing satellites, what impact the sun has on earth and how many things were by-products of the space industry. His mother raised six children, five of them boys, so we know whose job was harder!

Until younger brother Willie, eight years his junior, was born, Tom had to pay the price for being the youngest and the smallest (yes, the smallest). He was always forced into the most uncomfortable space in the family’s Vista Cruiser Station Wagon. He also had to share a room with a brother. The longer arms of the siblings always grabbed the last pieces of chicken at dinner. And, of course, everything that happened in the Boulder home was always blamed on Tom. He knew he would not win those arguments, so he developed the ability to smile and roll with the punches, a trait he carried on into his adult life. Tom was a fine man.

Tom participated in all the Americana that Boulder had to offer. He was a swimmer, keen bike mechanic, paper boy, champion Little Leaguer, neighborhood snow shoveler and Boy Scout. He played the saxophone poorly and it was universally decided that he should stop. He still holds the Columbine Elementary record for breaking both arms in a Superman vs. Swing-set mishap. In winter, he learned to ski at Eldora in thermal underwear and jeans and not to sled into traffic. In summer, he learned where to find the best inner tubes for Farmer’s Ditch and that exploding Ladyfinger firecrackers hurt if you held them too long. His tallness, coke bottle glasses and mop of hair were his brand. These things build character. The teen years were filled with good friends, beater cars, 8-tracks and well-curated vinyl.

His hallmark, skewed humor was evident early on in his collections of creepy comic books, MAD magazines, Odd Rods and Topps Wacky Packs trading cards, Rat Fink plastic models and quirky blacklight posters. His peculiar doodle art was impressive and could have been another career path. He took his birthright Simpson prairie wit to new heights.

Tom looked forward to the days his older siblings would leave home and go off to college. As each of his siblings left, Tom finally found the space he needed as he grew to be the tallest of the group.

After graduating from Boulder High, Tom went to CU (University of Colorado for the non-Boulderites) for a quick minute and decided to finish college at Montana State in Bozeman. Before leaving Boulder, Tom's longest career stint was at the local K-mart where he gained work experience and lifelong friends. It seems the inmates were in charge of that asylum and work was a whole lot of fun.

His time in Bozeman was spent with good friends and their many antics that were deemed questionable. But he found time to work in minus 30-degree temps at a gas station, ski whenever possible and almost fail a college bowling class.

After graduating with a double major in accounting and management, Tom, a fine man, spent a couple years working as an accountant/business manager for a radio company. Then came his introduction to Alaska and its bountiful seafood. He worked as a field biologist collecting samples at sea for months on end for National Marine Fisheries Service. Following that, he had a short stint with an accounting firm maintaining vessel accounts and then in 1991 he joined Sea Catch (Chignik Pride Fisheries). He remained at Chignik Pride, making lifelong friends along the way, until the owner died and the plant was purchased by Trident Seafoods. After a few years at Trident, Tom returned to spending his summers in the land of salmon. This time he joined newly founded, Ekuk Fisheries in Bristol Bay. There he reconnected with old friends and quickly cemented new friendships. His summers were spent pranking his coworkers, enjoying snacks from his care packages, smoking cigars at the dump, binge-watching DVDs, singing the song “Sailing” very poorly and, of course, working.

Tom's love of travel started early. His first long-haul trip, in his late 20’s, was several months of exploring eastern Africa. He got so skinny and tan that his father didn't recognize him when they crossed paths at an airport in Germany. From there, he was off to somewhere far-flung every year. His network of friends was truly worldwide.

It was at Trident that he met and became friends with his future wife, Carla Bailes. Their shared love of travel brought many conversations and the friendship turned romantic. Their first year as a couple was spent attending four weddings and a funeral (no, not the movie); traveling from Las Vegas to Ireland, Colorado and California for weddings of friends and family and ending back in Colorado for his father’s funeral.

Since then, they have traveled to many US and global destinations visiting friends, enjoying the local food and sites and always finding the best pub to end their nights. Tom’s innate lack of direction found them in many unique locales, but always with a story to share upon returning home. Carla would lag behind to watch Tom turn the wrong way when leaving every hotel room. He blamed it on not having the Rocky Mountains to guide by.

While at home, Tom, a fine man, watched his favorite team, the Denver Broncos and often had one of his beloved pets in his lap whether they weighed 12 lbs or 140! Tom spent time in his 20's working for the Broncos. What a dream job for him!

Tom had battled a litany of health issues that began with a heart virus in is late 30’s. The last two years were very difficult for him, but he kept his positive attitude throughout. His sense of humor and beyond-quick wit stayed with him until the end. Tom passed away in the early hours of September 28th, 2022, the result of a stroke suffered hours earlier.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Margie Simpson and John O Simpson, sister-in-law, Kathy Simpson, nephew John Simpson-Mills and father-in-law, Bob Bailes.

Tom is survived by his wife, Carla, siblings Don Simpson, Katie Simpson (Geoff), Ken Simpson (Viv), Dan Simpson and Willie Simpson (Tim), nieces and nephews, Andy Simpson (Maura), Laura Larson (Matt), Amanda Armstrong (Kendal), Pete Simpson-Mills, Chris Simpson (Kaitlyn) and Anna Simpson-Mills. He also leaves behind many loving family members, friends and his dog, Lola.

He was a fine man!

No, Tom did not write this.

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