Former US Sen. Alan Simpson was remembered on Monday with humor, admiration, and heartfelt tributes as family, friends, and admirers gathered to celebrate his life in his hometown of Cody, WyoFile reports.
Since his passing on March 14 at the age of 93, tributes have poured in from across the nation, honoring the towering Wyoming statesman’s wit, integrity, and deep commitment to public service. But on Monday, at Christ Episcopal Church, it was his family who took center stage, sharing personal memories of a man they described as unflinchingly honest, endlessly generous, and always quick with a joke.
“He was authentic, genuine,” said Colin Simpson, his son. “He changed lives. He was full of grace for his fellow humans … Dad’s good works will live on in all of us.”
Nick Simpson, his grandson, reflected on his grandfather’s sharp humor and deep wisdom.
“He knew exactly who he was and what he stood for. But he also loved the absurdity of life. As he would put it: ‘If life was logical, men would ride side-saddle.'”
Beyond his decades of public service, Simpson was remembered as a devoted husband, father, and friend. His brother, Pete Simpson, described their mischievous childhood in Cody, recalling Alan as the talkative one.
“He didn’t speak until he was 3 years old,” Pete joked. “After that, he never stopped.”
Simpson’s wife of 70 years, Ann, was credited as the stabilizing force in his life.
“Look at this result, this legacy,” Pete said. “Yeah, he lucked out—certainly, we all did.”
Simpson’s political career began in 1964 when he was elected to the Wyoming Legislature. In 1978, he won a US Senate seat, where he would serve for 18 years, earning a reputation for bipartisan cooperation and an unwavering commitment to his home state.
Yet, Monday’s service focused less on policy and more on the personal moments—his bedtime readings of Wind in the Willows, his Halloween Frankenstein costume, his devotion to Wyoming institutions like the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and the University of Wyoming.
Pete Simpson described his brother’s deep generosity.
“The love he felt underpinned everything he did.”
Simpson’s farewell was as grand as the life he lived, with tributes spanning the state. His casket lay in state at the Wyoming Capitol last week, where friends and admirers paid their respects. Over the weekend, a gathering at the University of Wyoming—his beloved alma mater—featured reflections from dignitaries, family, and former colleagues.
President Joe Biden sent a letter calling Simpson “a man of enormous decency and integrity.” Speakers, including former Rep. Liz Cheney and Sen. John Barrasso, shared both heartfelt and humorous stories, recalling Simpson’s ability to balance sharp political insight with a never-ending stream of jokes.
“‘The thing you have to know, Liz, about the seniority system of the United States Senate,'” Cheney recalled him saying, “‘is that it’s just like a cesspool. And the biggest turds rise to the top.'”
Even in solemn moments, Simpson’s humor lived on. Former aide Mike Tongour read a decades-old memo in which Simpson complained about the Capitol’s rough toilet paper.
“Please buy me some Charmin. I’ll pay cash money out of my pocket.”
As the service came to a close, Pete Simpson recited a passage likening his brother’s passing to a mighty cedar falling, leaving a “lonesome place in the sky.”
But his daughter, Sue Simpson Gallagher, reassured those mourning his loss.
“He is gone now, but not really. Because he lives in all of us.”
With laughter, tears, and a standing ovation, Wyoming said goodbye to Alan Simpson—just as he would have wanted.
