Martha Louise Thomas

Martha Louise Thomas (Barber), known affectionately to her family and friends as Marti, of Fort Collins passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, January 11, 2019. Marti was born on July 16, 1937, in Boone, Iowa, to Willis R. Barber and Helen Houghton Barber. She was raised in Chicago, IL, and made her home in Arvada and Salida, Colorado, for many years.

She married Thomas M. Thomas on August 18, 1962. He survives her. They had 3 children and traveled the world together as a family.

Marti had a passion for life, starting with a love for her family. She had a concern for those less fortunate and spent her life volunteering, beginning in her teen years writing letters for veterans at the local VA hospital. She volunteered for many years at the Jeffco Action Center in Denver. In Salida, she was involved in the creation of the Kids Campus, an after-school program for kids of working parents, which was the foundation for the present-day Chaffee County Boys & Girls Club.

Travel was another passion and Marti took every opportunity to travel the world, visiting countries on all continents except Antarctica. Marti took each of her five grandchildren to Chicago for their 7th birthdays to show them where she had grown up, and delighted in planning family trips. She was no sooner unpacked from one when she was planning the next adventure.

Marti's passion for learning led to degrees in Education and Nursing, and she was a student of alternative medicine. She also was a talented seamstress and loved sewing, knitting and quilting. She was an avid reader and always had several books going at once. She built a home library that gave her great satisfaction. She could always be counted on for a great book recommendation.

Marti's passion for life did wonderful things, it created a family, it helped others, and it made her who she was. She was always the life of the party, the most eccentric person in the room no matter what. She was bold and always wanted to try new things, and she never took life too seriously. She was a light in the lives of those who were lucky enough to know her, and always greeted her friends and family in red lipstick and a smile. She taught those in her life how to enjoy the little things and indulge in life's simple pleasures.

Marti lived her life for others, all the while taking in joy for herself, whenever she could find it. She often could. She was wise and curious, and she had a great compassion for others. All who knew her felt listened to and loved and known. Her loss leaves a hole in the lives of those she loved. She will be missed every day, in every moment of joy.

She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Thomas M. Thomas; Daughters Katie Thomas and Kristen Gustafson; Son Matthew (Colleen) Thomas; Grandchildren Emma, Chloe and Ben Gustafson and Ryan and Paige Thomas. She is preceded in death by her parents, and her older brother, David H. Barber.

A private memorial service will be held in the Spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Chaffee County Boys & Girls Club http://www.bgcchaffee.org/ or the Jeffco Action Center https://theactioncenterco.org/ .