Jessie Miller Elliott, "Ja," was born December 15th, 1941. She passed away May 27th, 2023.
Ja was born to Owen and Norma Miller in Buffalo, WY and lived with her four siblings: Willa Duncan, Norman Miller, Doug Miller, and Gerry Miller. She lived in Buffalo, out on the family ranch until she headed off to Sheridan Jr. College in Sheridan WY.
In Sheridan, she lived with extended family members Gretchen and "Dunc" Duncan. Ja pursued the beginnings of her teaching degree at Sheridan Junior College, and was actively engaged in several activities outside of the classroom. While in Sheridan, Ja was involved in rodeo, barrel racing and running for rodeo queen. She skied with family and friends, yodeling down the mountain hills. She spent time with family at the Dunc Inn, and worked several jobs over the summer, including being a waitress at the Busy Bee in Buffalo WY.
Finishing up her teaching degree at the University of Wyoming, she met the love of her life, Lew Elliott. They married in 1964 and moved to Casper WY.
While in Casper, Ja was a first grade teacher at two different schools.
She won several teaching awards and was engaged in her teaching sorority. Ja learned to golf while in Casper, and it remained a lifelong love/hate relationship. Ja became a mother to Deea Frisbie in Casper, the "greatest job of her life."
In 1976 work brought the Elliott family to Boulder Colorado.
While in Boulder Ja worked as a substitute teacher for BVSD for several years, and was the Director at two different preschools in the Boulder area. She and Lew led and active and exciting life, golfing, skiing, fishing, hunting, bowling, dancing, training their two dogs Willee and Guff, hiking in the Grand Lake area, and traveling near and far.
Ja was an incredibly talented woman, a beautiful writer, published poet, fantastic artist and voracious reader.
Ja and Lew were surrounded by amazing friends from beginning to end. They were an important part of their lives, and critical to Ja after Lew's passing in 2010. Beyond her friends, the lights of Ja's life were her family.
Her beloved Lew, her daughter Deea, son in law John, granddaughter Dallas and grandson Charlie.
Ja was a devoted and loving wife and an involved and fantastic Mother. Always present, kind, compassionate and caring. She was fierce when riled, strong, courageous and brave. Ja was always up for fun, for singing songs, for being silly, and always found a way to laugh. There was never a moment in Deea's life where her Mom's love and support went missing. Near or far, her daughter knew her mother's love.
When John joined the family Ja and Lew were thrilled. A son, finally! They loved him deeply and cherished ever ything about him. They were very proud of his service in the Air Force and supportive of his career pursuits post military service. Ja enjoyed cooking brownies with frosting for John, teasing him and going on walks with him in Grand Lake.
After Lew's passing, she was often heard saying, "I just don't know what I would do without John."
However great Lew, Deea and John were, the three became the bottom of the totem pole when her grandchildren arrived.
She delighted in everything Dallas and Charlie. From the beginning of their lives until the ending of hers, "Mema" loved them with every ounce of her being, and showed that love every way she could. Every event, and we do mean every, Mema was front and center rooting and cheering. She was there for all celebrations and for the harder moments as well. She learned to text later in life so she could stay in contact with her grandkids while they were away at college.
Ja resided at Fraiser Meadow Manor the last several years, moving from Independent living to Assisted Living to Memory Care as her needs shifted. She made many, many great friends, enjoyed all the activities and experiences offered. As life got more challenging, she was treated with kindness, compassion and dignity, and her family thanks many, many people at Fraiser for their love and care of Ja.
Ja was a warrior. She fought breast cancer twice and won. She endured the hardship of dementia over the last few years with dignity and a sparkle in her eyes. However, even a warrior's hear t tires, and Ja was finally able to join her beloved Lew and her dogs in Heaven.
Ja was proceeded in death by her parents, her husband Lew Elliott and many extended family members and friends, She leaves behind her adoring family of Deea, John, Dallas and Charlie Frisbie, her siblings Willa Duncan, Norman Miller, Doug Miller, Gerry Miller, (Marie), her sister in law Margie Myska and their families.
An open house style celebration will be held June 12th from 3:00 - 5:00 PM at Frasier Meadow Manor in the Eldorado Room within the Canyon Center. The address is 350 Ponca Pl, Boulder CO 80303. Ja's ashes will be taken to Buffalo WY to be interred next to her hubby at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, Ja's request was for donations in her name to be made to Tru Community care at trucare.org/donate.