Alice Keep Carlson

Alice Keep Carlson, 87, of Centennial, CO passed away on January 7, 2020. Born January 28, 1932 to Isabel Scott and Albert Keep in Cambridge, MA, Alice married an Oberlin College classmate, Harold (Hank) F. Carlson (deceased) on December 16, 1953, and they settled in Denver shortly thereafter. She is survived by their two children, Jeffrey Keep Carlson of Honolulu, HI, and Lynn Carlson, of Coventry, RI; three grandchildren, Matthew, Stephen, and Elizabeth Carlson, and two great-grandchildren, Lilliana and Kieren, all of Hawaii. She was the sister of Lindsay K. Batcheller, Sandra K. Notz, and Scott Keep, and step-sister to Kenneth, Thomas, and Philip Fox (deceased).
After growing up in western Massachusetts, Alice attended high school in Tucson, AZ, and then Oberlin College in Ohio where she earned a B.A. in Fine Arts. Later, while living in Colorado, she obtained an M.A. in Painting from the University of Denver. Painting in the style of Abstract Expressionism, she achieved recognition as an artist when some of her work was accepted to be shown in juried shows at the Denver Art Museum. Her paintings hang in the homes of many of her friends.
Throughout her life, Alice was active in many volunteer efforts. She served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Junior Soccer Association; worked with high school students participating in international exchange programs through ICX and YFU; participated in the Information & Referral service for the Mile Hi United Way; became a member of the Board of Directors of Human Services, Inc. of Denver, and, after moving to Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1984, volunteered at a Planned Parenthood clinic, and later on the Board of Planned Parenthood of Utah. She also carried many responsibilities within the South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society congregation in Utah, including two terms on its Board of Trustees; and assisting her husband in starting a Utah chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).
After the death of her husband, Alice returned to Colorado in 2008, becoming re-acquainted with old friends and making many new ones. She continued with her dedication to volunteer activities, becoming a trainer with Freedom Service Dogs, helping transform shelter dogs into custom-trained assistance animals.
Alice's first love was always her family, which at all times included at least one canine, and usually a bird or two. Next to them, she liked best being outdoors - horseback riding, small boat sailing, hiking, camping, and skiing (both downhill and cross country) and cheering for her kids and grandkids at their sporting events. When severe osteoarthritis made these active sports difficult, she turned to dog training and gardening.
A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, June 6th at 3 pm. The location will be in the Community Room at the Holly Creek Retirement Community, 5500 East Peakview Ave, Centennial, Colorado 80121.