Earl Clinton Thomas

Earl Clinton Thomas passed away at the age of 76 due to complications from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) on Thursday, Jul 23rd, 2015 at his home in Brighton, Colorado in the arms of his loving family. Earl's life began humbly in New Sharon, Iowa on February 13th, 1939, born at home to loving parents, Rex Ferber Thomas and Mary Olive Mattix. Earl was raised in rural Iowa where he lived on a farm. He learned how to care for animals and how to work hard under the tutelage and direction of his father whom he deeply revered. Earl was a football player as a boy, and by his own account, a damn good one. At the age of 18 Earl married his forever bride, Karen Elizabeth Briggs on Christmas Day in 1957. Earl & Karen had three children (Mark, Steve & Crystal) all born in Iowa by the time he was 23 years old. In order to provide for their young family they moved back and forth from Iowa to Colorado briefly before returning to Colorado for good in 1966. Earl worked various jobs but his hard work ethic and infernal drive to build something of his own led him to start a landscaping business. Earl found his passion, however, in running a concrete foundation company Blue Ribbon Concrete, then later founded Exact Foundations where he was able to work alongside his boys. Earl's life changed forever in 1973 after becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Earl & Karen were later blessed with two more sons, Matthew & Shane. In most recent years, Earl was retired from construction work and battled with his health for many years. He left a lasting legacy of family, love, giving, hard work, and a larger-than-life persona that was impossible not to notice, even with one encounter. Earl is survived by his angel wife, Karen Thomas, five children: Mark, Crystal (husband Scott Buckey), Stephen (wife Leslie), Matthew (wife Liz) & Shane Thomas; fifteen grandchildren: Chad, Brandon & Ryan Schneider, Lacey (husband Jake Fotheringhame) & Sammy Jo Buckey, Christopher (wife Esthefany), Elise, Dallen, Ashton, Brynn & Hayden Thomas; Bridger, Alta, Sage & Aspen Thomas; & five great-grandchildren, Jocelyn Thomas, Audrey, Aaliyah & Abigail Dean, & Joie Schneider; his sister Vera & his brother John, sisters-in-law Sandra, Shirley & Ginny; and was preceded in death by his mother, father, & brothers Earnest & Dean, brother-in-law Wilbur & sister-in-law Ellen. A Visitation will be held on Monday July 27, 2015 at Six O'Clock in the Evening at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel in Thornton, 9998 Grant Street. A Funeral Service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Tuesday July 28, 2015 at Ten O'Clock in the Morning at 1454 Myrtle Street in Brighton, Colorado. Please leave memories of Earl and condolences for his family by signing the guestbook below.