Barbara Lucille Elliott

Barbara Lucille Elliott crossed over to be with her Lord on August 23, 2025—just two days shy of her 85th birthday—at the Dallas Retirement Village in Dallas, Oregon. She was a loving, gentle soul who enriched the lives of everyone she encountered.

Barbara was born to Robert “Bob” and Anna “Nancy” Yankee in Ashland, Wisconsin. She was the oldest of four children, growing up in both Wisconsin and Iowa. She attended college at the University of Dubuque (where she met her future husband) and the University of Iowa where she graduated with a double major in Elementary Education and English. She and her husband completed their master's degrees together in Alamosa, Colorado.

In 1962 Barbara married John Elliott. After four years living in Illinois, they moved to Colorado, where they raised their two daughters, Liz and Gwen. It is an understatement to say that Barbara was an extraordinary woman in her many roles, but especially as a mom, wife, educator, artist, musician, gardener, and animal lover. Barbara’s life was deeply intertwined with both music and church. Barabara continuously learned new skills, mastering everything she did, including singing, playing the autoharp, drawing, painting, sewing, macrame, leather tooling, basket weaving, papier mâché dolls and puppets, crocheting, quilting, stained glass, Red Cross swimming instructor, Boy Scouts Den Mother, dog obedience training and competition, and therapy dog and pig training. Barbara also loved walking her dogs, supporting her church, visiting nursing homes and hospitals with her therapy pets, participating in book clubs, becoming a Reiki Master, gardening, camping, and visiting friends and relatives.

Barbara was an inspiring school teacher for nearly 30 years. After substitute teaching in various school districts, she became an elementary school teacher for Colorado’s Lewis-Palmer School District. Barbara was well known for having a menagerie of animals—including her pot-bellied pig and iguana—in her classroom every day. Barbara’s love of science and animals afforded her students many unusual and memorable lessons. In 1987, Barbara was a finalist for Colorado Teacher of the Year. In 1990, she won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching and was honored with a trip to Washington, D.C., where she met President Bush. Barbara was inducted into her school district's hall of fame in 2015. Barbara and John moved to Oregon after retirement, where they spent several years on the coast before relocating to Dallas.

Barbara is survived by her sister, Linda (Larry, d. 2012) Johnson; brother, Theodore (Diana Swim) Yankee; husband, John; her children, Elizabeth (Daniel) Buss and Gwendolyn (David) Shindel; grandchildren, Brenda (Daniel) Beckstrom, Elliott (Emilee) Shindel, and Remington Shindel; two great-grandchildren; and many more precious relatives. Barbara was predeceased by her parents, Robert “Bob” and Anna “Nancy” Yankee, as well as her youngest sister, Christina. 

No formal services will be held. In memory of Barbara, please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association or to an animal shelter of your choice.