Barbara Joan Ely

Barbara was born January 29th, 1960 at Washoe Medical in Reno Nevada. She was born to Jim and Ruth Ely and entered this world 17 quick minutes after Ruth walked through the hospital doors, 8lbs and 3oz of joy. Barbara began elementary school at Florence Drake and later when the family moved to I street she attended Kate Smith. Barbara was tough, and loved to run and play with the boys. She would share stories about the trouble her and her 3 siblings would get in when they were young. She went to Sparks Junior High and then attended Sparks High School where she graduated from in 1978. Barbara was very involved in school, she was part of Future Homemakers of America, The Glee club and the Pep club. She was Sweetheart ball Queen in 1977 and she kept the tiara all these years.

She began working at Kmart her sophomore year of high school and stayed there until she began working for the State of Nevada. While working as a state employee she worked a few places including the business school at UNR and then retiring in 2012 from Aging and disability services. Barbara made so many great life long friendships at every place she worked. She was fun and bubbly and always put a smile on peoples faces.

In July of 1988 Barbara became a mother to her first babygirl, Aleah Joann. She loved being a mom and less than 2 years later welcomed her second daughter Rikki Jolene in February of 1990. She raised her two daughters in Sparks where they attended some of the same schools she did, including Sparks High. Being a mom was one of Barbara greatest and most important accomplishments. She was not only a mom to her 2 girls but also a mom to so many friends of theirs over the years.

In 2010 Barbara met the love of her life and her true soulmate, David Miller. Once she retired she packed up a bag and went on the road with her honey to drive long haul trucks. She spent 2 years on the road visiting states all over the US, they always talk about this time as some of the best years of their lives. In 2014 Barb and Dave hung up their keys and both retired back to Sparks. They finally tied the knot on August 21st, 2014 and never spent a day apart since.

She had 5 beautiful grandchildren that she could never stop talking about. Nikoli (17), Donovan (15), Hunter (5), Blake (4) and Quinn (3). She loved being a grandma even more than being a mom (if that was possible). Once retired her and Dave were Grandma and Papa to all the grand-babies and babysat them and more of the family’s friends babies, which they truly enjoyed. She loved being around the littles so much that her and Dave dressed up as Santa and Mrs. Claus to do photos with kids in the community during the Christmas season each year.

She had such warm and easy going personality. She made everyone that she met feel welcomed and at home. Barbara was a ray of sunshine and her laugh was so contagious you couldn’t help but smile. She will always be remembered for her kind, caring, funny personality and her blue eyes that would melt you. Anyone that knew her would feel comfortable talking to her about anything, she had this way of knowing the perfect thing to say in any situation.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, her Father James Nathan Ely (2011) and older Brother James Robert Ely (2015).

She is survived by her mother Ruth Ely, sister Cathy Ely, brother Dennis Ely (Lisa Ely), husband David Miller, two daughters Aleah Wetherill and Rikki Melanaphy (Shawn Melanaphy), grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

I want to finish with a poem written in 1978 by Barbara for her creative writing class.

It was only

a tiny crack

in the massive wall

but the sunlight

filtered in

and I, a forgotten seed

took root

and grew…

tall and strong

‘til the wall

could hold me

no longer

and now, at last,

I am free.

Barbara would always tell her girls and others “my cup runneth over” and with that she meant that her cup was so full of love for you that it overflows. So today we say to you Barbara, OUR CUPS RUNNETH OVER, you will be unbelievably missed.