Patricia Ellen Buckner

Patricia Ellen (McWethy) Buckner, known as "Ellen," passed away peacefully at home on December 10, 2019, in Fort Collins, Colorado, at the age of 72.

Ellen was born on October 2, 1947, in Cheyenne Wyoming, to Leslie Keeney McWethy and Anna Mae (Blakeman) McWethy, and lived in various places until the age of five, then lived in Loveland, Colorado, where she was actively involved in Loveland High School activities, including being Rag Day Queen in 1962, then graduating in 1965, She married Neal Buckner on April 1, 1967, and they had two children, Todd Michael Buckner and Jyl Michelle Buckner Phillips. They divorced in 1977. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley in 1968 and her Master's Degree from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, in 1985.

Ellen taught Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades for 29 years at Tavelli Elementary School in Fort Collins, touching many lives in the community, until she retired in 2000. She then worked as editor/distributor at a locally published magazine, as quality control expert at her sister's legal publishing company, and briefly as a "skiff chick" on her brother's commercial salmon boat. She loved to travel and fulfilled her "adrenaline junkie" side by being a water-skiing champion (even attending Nationals), teaching it to many friends and friends' families, mostly at Marianna Lake, plus snow skiing, snorkeling, skydiving, bungy jumping, scuba diving (she got certified at the age of 46), softball, volleyball, tennis, river rafting, and kayaking through the crocodiles in the Everglades. She enjoyed being with her son and daughter and their families, and was affectionately known as "Granny." There were many family members and friends throughout the country who knew how special, amazing and loving she was.

She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her children, Todd (Lisa) Buckner and Jyl (David) Buckner Phillips; grandchildren Taylor Phillips, Kaylen (Allan) Phillips Riley, Alex Buckner, Regan Buckner, Naythan Phillips and Raylee Phillips; and great granddaughter Adalynn Riley and a great grandson to be born in March 2020 to Kaylen. She is also survived by her siblings, Louise McWethy Dyekman and Mike McWethy of Richland, Washington, Sherry McWethy of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Chuck McWethy of Kodiak, Alaska, and by an aunt and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She will also be missed by the many special friends she had made throughout the years.

A celebration of her life will be held on January 11, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Timberline Church, 2908 South Timberline Road, Fort Collins, in the east auditorium. Since she loved tropical vacations by the ocean, please dress in bright, tropical colors and join her family and friends.

As a mother, grandmother and former teacher, children were an important part of her life, including children's literacy. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Realities for Children at https://www.realitiesforchildren.com/get-involved/donate/ or the Fort Collins Crossroads Safehouse at https://www.crossroadssafehouse.org/donate/donation/ ; or donations may be through Bohlender Funeral Chapel in Fort Collins at www.bohlenderfuneralchapel.com .