Obituary of Kevin Ray Ellis

Kevin Ray Ellis passed away too early at age 42 on April 17, 2025, in Denver, Colorado. Surrounded by his parents and friends, he succumbed to complications of liver failure at Denver Health Medical Center. The family is grateful for the extraordinary care provided by the staff at Denver Health and CU Anschutz who tried to save his life and provided comfort at the end.

Kevin is predeceased by his grandparents, George and Glenna Hayes of Pollock Pines, CA and Yoshiya and Helen Igarashi of Santee, CA, and uncles, Dwaine Hayes of Rocklin, CA, Gary Hayes of Yuba City, CA, and Gary Ellis of Marysville, CA. He is survived by his parents, Karyn Ellis (née Hayes) Igarashi and Peter Igarashi of East Setauket, NY; sister, Kalena Manning (née Ellis) and brother-in-law Chris Manning of Windsor, CT; and longtime girlfriend, Allison Hosack, and her parents John and Pam Hosack of Arvada, CO. Also surviving are his grandmother, Doris Fletcher of Olivehurst, CA; uncles Earnie Burch of Olivehurst, CA, Rockey Burch of Loma Rica, CA, Kenneth Igarashi of Santee, CA, Brian Igarashi of San Diego, CA, and Bradley and Scotty Ellis of Oregon; aunts Dorene Burch Enck of Marysville, CA, Karen Reeves (Keith Reeves) of Rocklin, CA, and Leslie Wilson (Dan Wilson) and Jocelyne Moon (Scott Moon) of Santee, CA; cousins Patrick Hayes of California, Lana Raley of Grass Valley, CA, Brittany McVeigh and Michael and Matthew Hull of Marysville, CA, Sara Dahlstrom of Yuba City, CA, Jeremiah Wilson of San Diego, CA, Bethany, Joshua and Jacob Wilson of Santee, CA, Grace, Sophia and Isabella Moon of Santee, CA, Ciera Hainge of Louisville, KY, James, Jonathan and Joseph Wilson of New York City, NY, Jacob Hern of Sutter, CA, Jeffrey and Jason Burch of North Carolina, Jamie Burch of Arizona, Robert Ellis of Reno, NV; and his many friends throughout Colorado, Connecticut, Texas and beyond.

Kevin was born in Roseville, California on July 25, 1982, the second child of Karyn and Roy Ellis. He moved with his mother to Connecticut at age two and grew up along the shoreline in Branford and Guilford. Kevin was a happy-go-lucky kid who learned to talk at an early age and never stopped talking thereafter. He enjoyed wrestling, soccer, skiing and lacrosse and played the viola and alto saxophone. He attended A.W. Cox Elementary School, Adams Middle School and Guilford High School. During his formative years, Kevin spent the summers in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in California helping his grandfather with construction projects and automobile restoration. At age 17, he moved with his family to Plano, Texas where he was a member of the inaugural class of Plano West Senior High School, played on the Texas State lacrosse team, and graduated in 2001. He then moved to Fort Collins, Colorado to attend Colorado State University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 2006.

After graduating from college, Kevin worked as a sales associate for Spradley Barr Ford in Fort Collins. He had a lifelong passion for exotic cars, Harley-Davidson motorcycles and Ram trucks. For most of his adult life, he was employed as a geochemical analyst in the petroleum and natural gas industry. Working first for Columbine Logging and later for King Canyon Buffalo, he used mass spectrometry to provide detailed, real-time hydrocarbon analysis at over 150 well sites throughout the nation. Kevin enjoyed the great outdoors and applying his expertise to train others in the field.

Kevin was a proud CSU Ram; he loved Fort Collins and Colorado where he spent his entire adult life. He frequented the Rocky Mountains, enjoyed hunting, boating and snowmobiling and adored his dogs, especially his soulmates Sidney and Kimber. Kevin was proud to be the go-to person whom people sought when they needed help. He volunteered at the VA clinic in Fort Collins and often drove out after snowstorms to help rescue people or their vehicles. He made many friends over his too-short life and relished their company, whether riding motorcycles to Sturgis or playing golf.

Kevin’s relatives and friends are devastated by his sudden and unexpected passing from a cruel disease, but we are all grateful for the enormous impact he had on all who met him. We will remember his big heart, persistence, friendliness, devotion and occasionally acerbic wit. Memorial services will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make a gift to support Denver Health or Liver Disease Research at the University of Colorado Anschutz.

Gifts to support Denver Health can be made online at: Donate - Denver Health Foundation. Please note Kevin R. Ellis in the “I am making this gift in honor or memory of someone special to me.”

Gifts to support the University of Colorado Anschutz in memory of Kevin Ray Ellis can be made online at: Donate - University of Colorado Anschutz.