Thomas Blakeley

Thomas R Blakeley was born in Iola Kansas on June 9, 1957. After 2 years he couldn't wait to leave. He spent most of his life in Colorado with a short 3-year stint in Alaska when his dad was stationed there in the 1960s. For the rest of his days, as long as he wasn't in Kansas, Tom was happy. Growing up he loved watching and playing sports and became an excellent runner, chasing his mom around the backyard with green tomato worms.

In 1979, Tom met Jill Weber at "The Rodeo" country western bar in Denver. To this day no one knows why Jill didn't run away but thankfully she didn't because she became his wife, the love of his life, his fiercest protector, and the mother of his two beloved kids Kristin and Zach. Wherever Tom went, Kristin was dragged along. She spent many afternoons chasing tennis balls he mishit on the court.

Tom inspired a love of the CU Buffs (even though Kristin became a Longhorn fan) and the Denver Broncos (despite their last two seasons) in both of his kids. Zach and Tom spent hours in line waiting for autographs from all of Denver's biggest sports stars including John Elway (back when he actually helped the Broncos win instead of helping them lose). Tom also had a passion for classic cars. Jill and Tom restored Ford mustangs - a black 69' Mach 1 for him and a 65' red convertible for her and a 1969 Mercury Cougar. They were the stars of every car show around town.

The only thing he loved more that his cars, making fun of his son, daughter-in-law, daughter and son-in law and sticking it to the man, was his role as Grandpa to Dylann and Charleigh. Whether taking them to Chuck E Cheese or watching Peppa Pig and Bubble Guppies there were no two people he'd rather be with.

This last year he really leaned into life. He rocked to the Rolling Stones at Mile High Stadium with Jill, ate corn dogs and relived his 1970s glory with his kids at the Lynyrd Skynyrd & Bad Company concert, saw his cousins play college football in Utah, and spent many weekends camping with his family at the family land his mom Sharon bought for the family to enjoy. Tom passed away at home with his constant four-legged companion Ruger by his side. Life will never be the same for those he left behind, his wife Jill of 37 years, his kids Kristin (and Chuck) Anderson and Zach (and Jeannie) Blakeley, his mom Sharon Fox, his two beautiful granddaughters Dylann and Charleigh Anderson, and too many other nieces, nephews, and cousins to count that he loved.