Kipp Parker was one of a kind. Born March 18, 1933 in Ogden, Utah and raised in Utah and southern Idaho, Kipp graduated from Davis High School in Kaysville, Utah in 1951. Kipp died peacefully in Longmont, Colorado on March 22, 2022, shortly after his 89th birthday. He was a longtime Longmont resident, moving there from the Salt Lake City area in the early 1970s. Always industrious, Kipp had several professions spanning roughly seven decades. His favorite was as a Field Representative for the American Hereford Association between 1974 and 1986, where he called on registered Hereford breeders in Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico and assisted them in promoting their cattle. Kipp attended production sales in those states where he “worked the ring” and became friends with many of the auctioneers; he also gave speeches at those sales. A skilled photographer and writer, his photography and write-ups were mainstays of the Hereford Association’s trade publication, then known as the American Hereford Journal. Prior to the Hereford Association, Kipp sold feed for Formula Feeds and was an editor and photographer for Cowles Publishing Company, which published the Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Montana Farmer Stockman magazines. He was also briefly a brakeman on the Union Pacific Railroad. At an age when most people were contemplating retirement, Kipp embarked on a new career as an over-the-road trucker, first owning a business moving household goods for Mayflower Transit and later working for Marten Transport where he was recognized for one million miles of accident-free driving. Kipp’s hobbies and interests were as varied and extensive as his work. He ran many marathons and a 50-mile race from Laramie to Cheyenne, Wyoming, all after age 50. A gifted story teller and public speaker, he was involved in Toastmasters for many years. Kipp was a dedicated Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies fan, voracious reader, western film aficionado, and close follower of politics and current events. For several years, he was a member of the Longmont Antique Car Club where he exhibited his 1926 Ford Model T. Kipp learned to play the banjo in his 70s. He also made many new friends at the Longmont Senior Center and dances around northern Colorado. Kipp was married to Sherma Parker since 1971 and is survived by her and their son, Cash K. Parker (and his wife, Mandy Valdes). He is also survived by his children from a prior marriage, Kathryn Parker, Adele Sonora, Jeff Parker, Derek Parker, and Marcie Parker, as well as numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Kipp is also survived by his sisters Holley and Merridy. He was preceded in death by his parents Louise Shipley (Schmalz) and Fred Parker and his sister Winnifred Ospital. A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 1, 2022 at 10 A.M. at Howe Mortuary, 439 Coffman Street, Longmont, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kipp Parker’s name to an organization of your choice.
Published by Longmont Times-Call on Mar. 30, 2022.
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