Ashland Thomas

Samuel Thomas, Sr., and Sandra Leopold. He was the third child born in his family. He was raised with his sisters, Ayesha, and Ashley. He also enjoyed spending vacations and other eventful times with his brothers, Samuel, Jr., Brian; his sisters, Corrinda, Sharhonda, and his god brother, Zavier Martin. Ashland enjoyed spending quality time with all his family. His family remembers him as a child loving to play sports, understanding the importance of education. Ashland was passionate about his education. As a youth, Ashland attended the Montview, and Green Valley Ranch Elementary schools, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, and the Denver School of Science and Technology for High School. While in high school, Ashland qualified to participate in the Pre-Collegiate Study Course through Metropolitan State College earning him college credits while he was still in high school. After graduating from high school, Ashland continued his education by attending Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado. He was awarded many academic scholarships for his scholarly accomplishments in math and science. He completed his Associates Degree of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering. Ashland was working on his Bachelors in Engineering, but was unable to complete it. In his free time, he would ask his mother to get up early on Saturday morning to drive miles away to play in Chess Competitions. As they drove, his mother remembers thinking, “When did he learn how to play chess?” He loved swimming, playing video games, football, soccer, and basketball. While in high school, his team was the best in their division. Ashland met the love of his life, Candice Aguilar, and they were inseparable. After a few years of dating, he decided to take the relationship to the next level. Candice remembers, “Ashland having a special day planned for them. He told her to get dressed because they were going to dinner, downtown. On the way to dinner, she could not stop staring at him, “He looked so handsome,” she thought. They arrived at the restaurant and were seated at a private table away from everyone. The lights were dim and candles everywhere. After dinner, the waitress brought over some champagne. She looked at him with total surprised because they never drink champagne! After a few sips, he grabs her hand, looks her in her eyes and said, “You and I have been through a lot these past few years. There’s no one else I would want to spend my life with. I want to grow old with you. I love you.” He got down on one knee and asked Candice to marry him. Although they never were able to fulfill that desire, their love lives on in every memory shared. A man of faith and love for the Lord, Ashland, from his childhood attended 430 Years Church of God In Christ, under the leadership of the late, Pastor R. Floyd Wesley, Sr., until he left for college. Upon his return within the last year, he began to attend, Soul Harbor Community Outreach Church of God In Christ, under the leadership of Pastor Chester Maxwell. He understood the importance of having a relationship with the Lord. Because of his immense love for the Lord, he stayed faithful to the ministry and the Lord. Ashland was called a thinker, an entrepreneur, a friend, and a leader. An entrepreneur at heart, Ashland owned and operated his own dog kennel called “A-List Bully’s.” He raised Blue Pit dogs. He was a very successful Kennel Owner Operator. He put his passion and love into all that he did. He also worked a part-time job at Bimbo’s Bakery as an Inventory Specialist. He also helped one of his family members in their architectural firm in Las Vegas as an intern, this filled his requirements for the engineering field, that was his major in college. Ashland was loved by many. Some of his closest friends, Brice Bussey, and Josh Castillo, and his cousin, Johnathon Leopold will miss the time they shared. Sickle Cell Anemia may have been a source of pain for Ashland, but through it all his was positive influence and a source of continued encouragement to all of his friends and family. He will never be forgotten. Ashland was preceded in death by his father, Samuel Thomas, Sr., his sisters, Ashley Nicole Thomas; and brother, Samuel Thomas, Jr. Ashland departed this life into the embrace of the Lord on October 8, 2017 in Aurora, Colorado. His memory will always be cherished by his mother, Sandra (Shannon) Thomas of Denver; his fiancé, Candice Aguilar; his sisters, Ayesha Leopold-Brewer of Denver, Corrinda (Roderick) Gilton, Sharhonda (Bruce) Coleman; his brother Brian (Michelle) Foster, all of Louisiana; his god brother, Zavier Martin of Denver; his grandmother, Naomi Shelton of Louisiana; close cousin, Aaliyah Ahmed; and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncle, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 10/19/2017 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 10/20/2017 at 11:00 AM - Light of Life Miracle Deliverance Church - 5800 Monaco Parkway, COmmerce City, Colorado
Cemetery: 10/20/2017 - Hampden Memorial Gardens - 8600 East Hampden Avenue, Denver, CO
Family Gathering: 10/20/2017 - Light of Life Miracle Deliverance Church - 5800 Monaco Parkway, COmmerce City, Colorado