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In Memory Of
Earlie Bee Thomas
1945
2022
Earlie Bee Thomas
December 11, 1945 — July 3, 2022
Listen to Obituary
In 2019, Earlie Thomas quoted 2 Timothy 4:7 saying, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith,' and I intend to stay strong." And he did.
On July 3, 2022, he finished well.
Born to Gertie Mae and Ray Thomas on December 11, 1945, and raised by Gertie Mae and Napoleon "Ren" Kinney in Denton, Texas, he was the sixth of eight children.
The family relocated to Denver in 1961, where Earlie graduated from Annunciation High School. An over-40-year association with Colorado State University began in 1967—first as a student/athlete, starting as a walk-on with the Rams and eventually becoming the captain of the football team; simultaneously, he earned his B. S. in Entomology. And, in the middle of all this, he married his favorite typist, Kathy, on August 1, 1969.
Earlie was drafted by the New York Jets in 1970; and in the same year, he proposed to Kathy once again: he would buy her "any electric typewriter she wanted," if he could go to graduate school. He was the Jets' starting right cornerback for the entirety of his career there, was runner-up for Rookie of the Year, and returned to Fort Collins each off-season to work towards his M. S. in Entomology, which he completed in 1975. At the end of his fifth season with the Jets, he requested that he be traded to Denver—his 5-year-old son would be starting kindergarten in the fall and Earlie didn't want his son to have his school year disrupted by the moves between Colorado and New York. He played for the Broncos that 1975 season and retired the following year.
In the ensuing years, he owned two consulting firms—providing expertise to growers in four states; returned to CSU to work in Facilities Management and Industrial Sciences; and in 1995, accepted the position as the first full-time Director of the University's Environmental Health Services.
While an appetite for learning and a gift for creative and informed problem solving marked his professional careers, his true passion was coaching "the little guys" . . . and mentoring the bigger ones. For twenty summers, he coached the Fort Collins Track Club—boys and girls ages 8 to 18; and for at least thirty autumns, he coached JAA football teams. It is safe to say that, for at least forty years, there were very few CSU football players with hopes set on an NFL opportunity, who did not spend considerable time enjoying Earlie's mentorship. And, then, he decided to try his hand at community theater, preparing as only an elite athlete can, for roles with Bas Bleu Theatre and OpenStage.
A man of great faith and humility, he lived to care for and provide for his family, and to pour his life into virtually everyone whose path crossed his. Whether he was speaking at the graduation banquet for the NFL Commissioner's daughter, to an elementary classroom ("Big Daddy, would you please show your bugs to our school?"), to a gathering of prisoners, or a gym full of GIs, he shared his love of God by sharing his life with others.
Earlie is survived by four siblings—Earnest Williams, Jr. (Hui Suk), John Matt Williams (Meryle), David Williams (Mae), and Faye—and was preceded in death by three siblings—Gertrude Rice, Ray Thomas, Jr., and Zackery Kinney. He loved unconditionally, protected, and provided for his wife of 52 years, Kathy, and their three sons—Garrett (Sonya), Ryan (Stephanie), and Jeramie (Jinny). Big Daddy adored, doted on, and would never say "no" to the "Gingerbread Gang"—his grandchildren Nichelle, Nina, Naishon, Riley, Imani, Isaak, Tommy, Rian, Jones, and Tsunami, and great-grandchildren Maya and Myles, with whom he leaves a legacy and a challenge to work hard, use the gifts He gave you to glorify Him, leave the results to Him, and to love all men as Christ has loved us. For him, the best vacations were the many times spent in Breckenridge and Hawai'i watching his sons, their wives, and the Gingerbread Gang create precious family memories.
We can say with thankful confidence that, while Parkinson's Disease took his body, it never touched his spirit!
Celebration of Life will be held 11 am, Monday, August 1, 2022 at Summitview Church, 1601 W. Drake Rd. Ft. Collins, CO 80525. live stream can be watched at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC98U4A8a0oAVZLpkg0GvarA .
Donations in Earlie's memory can be made to:
The Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Center of Excellence
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/about_us/charitable_giving/neurology/index.html
G. R. I. T. Athletics
https://gritathletics.com/
Calvary Temple Christian Church
https://www.calvarytemplecc.com/
Loving Haiti
https://www.lovinghaiti.org/
On July 3, 2022, he finished well.
Born to Gertie Mae and Ray Thomas on December 11, 1945, and raised by Gertie Mae and Napoleon "Ren" Kinney in Denton, Texas, he was the sixth of eight children.
The family relocated to Denver in 1961, where Earlie graduated from Annunciation High School. An over-40-year association with Colorado State University began in 1967—first as a student/athlete, starting as a walk-on with the Rams and eventually becoming the captain of the football team; simultaneously, he earned his B. S. in Entomology. And, in the middle of all this, he married his favorite typist, Kathy, on August 1, 1969.
Earlie was drafted by the New York Jets in 1970; and in the same year, he proposed to Kathy once again: he would buy her "any electric typewriter she wanted," if he could go to graduate school. He was the Jets' starting right cornerback for the entirety of his career there, was runner-up for Rookie of the Year, and returned to Fort Collins each off-season to work towards his M. S. in Entomology, which he completed in 1975. At the end of his fifth season with the Jets, he requested that he be traded to Denver—his 5-year-old son would be starting kindergarten in the fall and Earlie didn't want his son to have his school year disrupted by the moves between Colorado and New York. He played for the Broncos that 1975 season and retired the following year.
In the ensuing years, he owned two consulting firms—providing expertise to growers in four states; returned to CSU to work in Facilities Management and Industrial Sciences; and in 1995, accepted the position as the first full-time Director of the University's Environmental Health Services.
While an appetite for learning and a gift for creative and informed problem solving marked his professional careers, his true passion was coaching "the little guys" . . . and mentoring the bigger ones. For twenty summers, he coached the Fort Collins Track Club—boys and girls ages 8 to 18; and for at least thirty autumns, he coached JAA football teams. It is safe to say that, for at least forty years, there were very few CSU football players with hopes set on an NFL opportunity, who did not spend considerable time enjoying Earlie's mentorship. And, then, he decided to try his hand at community theater, preparing as only an elite athlete can, for roles with Bas Bleu Theatre and OpenStage.
A man of great faith and humility, he lived to care for and provide for his family, and to pour his life into virtually everyone whose path crossed his. Whether he was speaking at the graduation banquet for the NFL Commissioner's daughter, to an elementary classroom ("Big Daddy, would you please show your bugs to our school?"), to a gathering of prisoners, or a gym full of GIs, he shared his love of God by sharing his life with others.
Earlie is survived by four siblings—Earnest Williams, Jr. (Hui Suk), John Matt Williams (Meryle), David Williams (Mae), and Faye—and was preceded in death by three siblings—Gertrude Rice, Ray Thomas, Jr., and Zackery Kinney. He loved unconditionally, protected, and provided for his wife of 52 years, Kathy, and their three sons—Garrett (Sonya), Ryan (Stephanie), and Jeramie (Jinny). Big Daddy adored, doted on, and would never say "no" to the "Gingerbread Gang"—his grandchildren Nichelle, Nina, Naishon, Riley, Imani, Isaak, Tommy, Rian, Jones, and Tsunami, and great-grandchildren Maya and Myles, with whom he leaves a legacy and a challenge to work hard, use the gifts He gave you to glorify Him, leave the results to Him, and to love all men as Christ has loved us. For him, the best vacations were the many times spent in Breckenridge and Hawai'i watching his sons, their wives, and the Gingerbread Gang create precious family memories.
We can say with thankful confidence that, while Parkinson's Disease took his body, it never touched his spirit!
Celebration of Life will be held 11 am, Monday, August 1, 2022 at Summitview Church, 1601 W. Drake Rd. Ft. Collins, CO 80525. live stream can be watched at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC98U4A8a0oAVZLpkg0GvarA .
Donations in Earlie's memory can be made to:
The Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Center of Excellence
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/about_us/charitable_giving/neurology/index.html
G. R. I. T. Athletics
https://gritathletics.com/
Calvary Temple Christian Church
https://www.calvarytemplecc.com/
Loving Haiti
https://www.lovinghaiti.org/
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Celebration of Life
Monday, August 1, 2022
Starts at 11:00 am
Summitview Church
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