‘To heaven on a moonbeam’ — Family, colleagues, officials celebrate life of late Sen. Alan Simpson at state Capitol

CHEYENNE — A military procession walked into the rotunda of the Wyoming State Capitol, carrying a casket with an American flag draped over it. The procession was led by tearful family members of former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson.

A somber hush fell over the small crowd of elected officials, federal judges and supporters of the well-respected Cody Republican. Among those gathered were State Auditor Kristi Racines, State Treasurer Curt Meier and Secretary of State Chuck Gray.

“We gather today to honor the life and legacy of Al Simpson,” said Wyoming Supreme Court Chief Justice Kate Fox, “a man whose towering presence was felt … across the nation.”

Simpson died in Cody on March 14 at age 93, surrounded by friends and family, after struggling to recover from a broken hip. Family members said his recovery was hindered by complications from frostbite to his left foot approximately five years ago.

Fox said she knew Simpson when she was a “lowly law student.”

“He was just as kind and interested in me then as he was years later, when I became chief justice,” Fox said. “And I think that was Al Simpson. He treated you the same, whether you were important or not.”

Simpson was a “proud member of the Wyoming State Bar for 67 years,” Fox said.

He held great respect for the Constitution, the law and the judiciary branch. U.S. District Judge Alan B. Johnson told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that Simpson was an important person in his life.

When Johnson appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Sens. Malcolm Wallop and Simpson stood by him.

“Everywhere I went, people would ask me, ‘Do you know Al Simpson?’” Johnson said. “(Simpson) spoke to us. I mean with a big U and a big S, the United States. He made me proud to be from Wyoming.”

Shortly after Fox’s speech, the Simpson family gathered around the casket. They wrapped their arms around each other and sang “The More We Get Together.” Colin Simpson, son of the late senator, thanked the crowd for attending the event.

“Everywhere you look, there are ghosts of the Simpsons,” Colin said, making the crowd chuckle. “What he did here, it’s an incredible legacy. And many of you shared in that.”

Something to learn

Everyone who knew the towering, 6-foot-7 senator spoke openly of his infectious humor, approachable demeanor and uncanny ability to work across the aisle in Congress. Former Wyoming state Rep. Chris Boswell, who also served as former Gov. Dave Freudenthal’s chief of staff, told the WTE there were a few things today’s lawmakers could learn from Simpson.

“Perseverance toward an end and working toward that end with limited concern for partisan politics,” Boswell said. “Al was not blind to partisan politics by any means, but at the same time, he understood how to get things done.”

Wyoming Equality Director Sarah Burlingame cried silently in the corner during the special event. Simpson meant a great deal to her, as he did to everyone who met him, Burlingame told the WTE. His humorous personality, even as a politician, is hard to come by these days.

“The new batch (of Wyoming lawmakers) is a particularly humorless bunch of people. They test every joke to make sure they agree with everything in it before they laugh,” Burlingame said. “They could definitely learn from him how to have a robust sense of humor and laugh with whoever’s sitting next to you.”

‘Went to heaven on a moonbeam’

When the full moon was out, Sue Simpson Gallagher often accompanied her father around Bobcat Ranch for a moonlit walk. Her dad had a special place in his heart for full moons, she told the WTE.

“He loved full moons, and he died on the full moon, the lunar eclipse,” Simpson Gallagher said. “We say he went to heaven on a moonbeam, at three in the morning, at the total lunar eclipse.”

One of Simpson’s grandsons, Aidan Gallagher, recalled waking up every morning to the smell of bacon and pancakes. He’d stumble into the kitchen and see his grandfather cooking at the grill in long johns and a Wyoming apron.

“Every morning he says, ‘I made extra for you, Aidan,’” Gallagher said. “I think that’s my favorite recurring memory of Granddad.”

Simpson was close with his children and grandchildren. He always made jokes with them, and Nick Simpson recalled a couple of his grandfather’s favorites.

“It was always nonstop, and he’d trigger it at the most random times,” Nick said. “You drive past the graveyard and he’d go, ‘You know, people are dying to get in there.’” Even when Al Simpson worked 10 hours a day, he was never more than a phone call away, family members told the WTE. He and his wife of 70 years, Ann, would host dinners twice a week at the family ranch, Fiona Gallagher said. During his final days in hospice care, the family had 16 dinners in a row.

“We’ve been very, very lucky with how close-knit our family is,” Nick said. “I wouldn’t trade that for the world.”

Funeral

The flag-draped casket will remain in the Capitol rotunda until Friday afternoon. A military recession of the casket will take place at 2 p.m., with a short prayer service led by the Rev. Christian Paul Basel, rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church of Cheyenne. Gov Mark Gordon and Peter K. Simpson, Simpson’s brother, will offer special remarks during this service.

On Saturday, the Simpson family is hosting a free public celebration of the late senator at the University of Wyoming’s Arena-Auditorium starting at 11 a.m.

This story was published on March 28, 2025.