Alys R. Veal

Alys R. Veal was born Alys Loree Reeder on October 24, 1929 in Rooks County, Kansas. She was born in the family home on the farm her great-grandmother homesteaded in the late 1800's. Her father, Melvin Reeder and mother, Maisie Mae Reeder (Henderson) raised Alys and her brother Jack W. Reeder on the farm next to Elm Creek in central-western Kansas.

Alys went to school in a one-room schoolhouse that was also used as the Christian Church until the 8th grade. She had to leave home to live with relatives when she began to attend high school in Stockton, Kansas, as there were no school buses in those days. She graduated from Stockton High School in 1947. Alys was the first person in her family to attend college. She attended Kansas State University from 1947-1951, where she majored in Journalism and Home Economics.

Following college, Alys moved to Bozeman, MT where she worked on the college publications staff at Montana State University. After working four quarters, she received a fourth quarter leave and was accepted to the University of Denver. She declined that opportunity, and instead decided to marry Robert M. Veal. Alys and Bob met while both attended KSU. Bob graduated KSU in 1952 with a degree in geology. Bob was about one year older than Alys, but graduated after her, having served in the Navy toward the end of World War II. Bob and Alys were married on December 26, 1954 in Alys' hometown of Stockton, Kansas.

Bob job hunted on their honeymoon in Denver, where they hoped to live. He was offered a position with Phillips Petroleum in Casper, Wyoming where they immediately moved. Alys worked as a reporter and the editor of the Society Section for the Casper Star Tribune until the birth of her third child. All of Bob and Alys' three children were born in Casper. Sarah Alice Veal was born in 1956, Richard Mark Veal in 1958 and Alan Robert Veal in 1960. In 1964 Phillips Petroleum transferred Bob to Denver, Colorado, and the family moved into their home on Ronald Lane in Northglenn.

Alys changed careers after moving to Denver. She received her Real Estate License in 1967. She worked for Perl Mack Realty and went on to receive her Broker’s License while still working for Perl Mack. In the late 1970’s Alys joined forces with Joan Garbarini. The two, who would remain partners until Joan’s death in 2002, opened Century 21 North Metro. Century 21 would eventually become Metro Brokers North Metro in 1990.

Alys was a licensed realtor for over 50 years, and was still licensed at the time of her death. She was still maintaining an office at Metro Brokers until late last fall. During her career, she served on the North Suburban Board of Realtors, the Colorado Board of Realtors, and the Women’s Council of Realtors. Alys was awarded Realtor of the Year by the North Suburban Board of Realtors, and was made Realtor Emeritus after 40 years of service by the National Association of Realtors.

In addition to her real estate career, Alys was active in her church, and was a long-time member of RMAGA (Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists Auxiliary) and SERTOMA. She was an ardent supporter of the Tennyson Center for Children. She was also very present and involved in the lives of her children, and especially the lives of Sarah’s three daughters: Chandra, Brittany and Taylor.

Alys is survived by her daughter, Sarah Veal Quillen, her son, Alan Robert Veal and his wife, Jody, her three granddaughters, Chandra Jade Quillen, Brittany Quillen Gagel, and Taylor Alys Quillen. Alys was preceded in death by her husband, Robert M. Veal in 1994, her son, Richard “Mark” Veal in March, 2017 and her only sibling, Jack W. Reeder in 2017.

Alys will be laid to rest at Fort Logan National Cemetery alongside her husband Robert M. Veal. A memorial service will be held sometime in the late Spring or early Summer of 2020. A date will be set for the memorial once the coronavirus crisis is resolved. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Tennyson Center for Children.