Tom L. Ellis, age 70, of Burlington, passed away Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016 at his home in Burlington. He was born on March 7, 1946, in Holyoke to Melvin and Laura (Shambaugh) Ellis. He was one of seven siblings. Tom grew up on a farm north of Eckley and attended Buffalo Grass School until 5th grade. The family then moved to Eckley where he attended Eckley School; he transferred to Yuma High School until his graduation in 1964. Tom attended Rangely College on a basketball and baseball scholarship. From 1964 to 1966 he continued his college education at Southern Colorado State University in Pueblo until his graduation 1968.On Sept. 17, 1966, Tom was united in marriage to Kathryn A. Gose in Englewood. They shared over 50 years of marriage. To this union was born a son, Tim Ellis and two daughters, Cindy Ellis and JoDee Ellis. Tom taught school immediately after graduating college at Burlington Junior and Senior High School for the next 31 years, retiring in 2000. He was a football and basketball coach for 17 years during which time he coached in one state championship football game. He drove a school bus route and drove the athletic team busses to many games and special events. He also taught many years as the driver education instructor. During Tom's high school years at Yuma High School, he played on two state championship teams, one in basketball and one in football.Tom was an avid sportsman. He loved fishing, hunting and taking long walks with his beloved dogs. Tom was a loving and giving husband and father. He showed everyone that knew him that he had the biggest heart and how to love without limits. He had a giving smile to reflect yours and most importantly making his family his number one priority.He was a devoted husband, dad, brother, grandfather, uncle, idol, teacher and man. He will be greatly missed and remembered for his smile, his jokes and his giving heart.Tom will be dearly missed and his warm spirit will continue on through his family and friends for the rest of their lives. He was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Laura; two brothers-in-law, Danny Jiron and Marty Gose.Tom is survived by his wife Kathryn of the home; one son, Tim Ellis of Burlington; two daughters, Cindy Ellis (Michael) of Greeley and JoDee Ellis of Burlington; three sisters, Carolyn Knapton (Stan) of Tucson, Ariz., Alice Brown (Al) of Cedaredge and Lila Jiron of Cedaredge; three brothers, Max Ellis (Julie) of Helena, Mont., Jerry Ellis (Sandy) of Cedaredge and Mervin Ellis of Colorado Springs; six grandchildren, Taylor Barnes, Mason Barnes, Cade Barnes, Michaela Ellis, Rae Ellis and Matthew Ellis. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 28, 2016, at the Fairview Cemetery in Burlington with Father Carlos Gallardo officiating. Inurnment will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Burlington. Memorial contributions may be made to Burlington High School Athletic Department or to the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation in Tom's memory and may be left at or sent to Frontier Bank, 107 South 14th St., Burlington, CO 80807.Friends may go to www.lovefuneralhomes.com to leave a message of condolence for the family and to sign their online register book.Funeral arrangements entrusted to Love Funeral Home, Burlington.