Vernon Beebe

Longtime Denver resident and musician Vernon Beebe, died at home on Jan. 18, 2021, from complications of cancer. Vernon Kenneth Beebe was born June 20, 1935 in Cambridge, NY and grew up in the small farming village of Rupert, VT. He served in the U.S. Air Force, playing trombone in an Air Force band during four years of active duty (1956-60), followed by two years in the reserves. Vernon played in the band for Eisenhower's Jan. 20, 1957 second inauguration!

Vernon and Louise Anne Cowan married on July 10, 1958, moving to the Washington Park East neighborhood in 1966. Vernon worked for many years as a court reporter, District and Federal. He continued his passion for music, playing trombone with several local bands. Lou Anne and Vern loved walking in their neighborhood park, and delighted in Lou Anne's delicious cooking and taking in live concerts, chamber music to jazz.

After Lou Anne's death in 2007 and his retirement from court reporting, Vernon sought out meaningful avenues for his gifts and time, cultivating strong friendships along the way. He found a church home at the Kirk of Bonnie Brae United Church of Christ, lending his smooth bass to the choir and his dry wit to coffee hour. For years he delivered Meals On Wheels to a cadre of appreciative recipients in Littleton, and offered his expressive piano-playing -- jazz, ragtime, boogie woogie and the great American standards -- to listeners in the atrium at Littleton Adventist Hospital. More recently, he tickled the ivories during happy hour for residents of Kavod Senior Life in Cherry Creek.

Vernon is survived by dear friends, his church family, his beloved cousin Caroline Sweeney of NY, and many other cousins. A memorial is planned for Sat., Aug. 21, 11am, at the Kirk of Bonnie Brae UCC, 1201 S. Steele St., Denver. Interment following at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Info: https://www.horancares.com/obits.  Memorial gifts can be made to the Kirk of Bonnie Brae UCC.