Patricia Ballard Kelly

January 21, 1946 - January 1, 2018

Patricia Ballard Kelly January 21st, 1946 - January 1st, 2018 Patricia Ballard Kelly, aka Patty, PBK or, what I liked most to call her these last few years: “The PK,” slipped out of this magical life, on New Year’s Day, 2018 in the morning. In the moment of the phone call that relayed the news of her passing; never, have I wanted more, to turn back the clock an hour or two. No moment has ever felt more final and devastating than this one. We hadn’t finished evolving together. Though she was not a traditional mom, she was a major, larger than life character for more than one place and person in this world. She grew up in a neighborhood in Miami Beach, spent summers in Birney, MT living the dude ranch life with her mom, and ultimately made her life in the small town of Big Horn, Wyoming. She made lifelong friends and had two little girls, born in 71 and 72. Since her passing, we likely all would like one more conversation, one more visit, one more hug or even one more flash of her feisty eyes with a twist of her mouth and the bold opinion weighted therein.... just one more moment with mom... Mom spent the last 4 years or so battling some complications with her health and ultimately agreed to move to Salt Lake for her care. The day I called mom to tell her that we found a care center where she and Mia Kitty (her feline “partner” of 5.5 years) could live together in a “condo,” she told me she was “dancing around the room in her head.” She could not at that point dance on her own two feet. The PK was always making plans to get back home to her ranch in Wyoming where she could pull weeds and look out at her back yard. She had a way of seeing her “whole life in front of her” even through her very last days. While she qualified for and benefited from 24 hour assistance and care, she saw herself as very independent. Mom was born in January of 1946 in Miami Beach, FL to Mary Elizabeth Ballard and John Patrick Kelly. She lived a carefree, wild child, golden life in her youth attending St. Pats Catholic School in Miami Beach. Her independent mother had laid down roots in Big Horn WY with the purchase of a little ranch in 1959; found for them by close friends and dude ranch brothers from Birney, Montana. She and her mom traveled west from FL every summer. They were horse women. Mom was the Sheridan County Rodeo Queen in 1967, and as I understand, it was back in the day when Queens were chosen by the “applauso-meter” as contestants made a galloping lap around the arena. She met and married Dale Lassiter, had two daughters, and tried to settle in; but I don’t think being married suited her. Mom loved her independence and freedom. She loved what Frank Sinatra sang boldly in 1968 “I did it my way.” She made it known to more than one person that she wanted it “played at her funeral” and since she lived up to it, we’ll honor this request at a celebration of life in the summer at her ranch in WY. She was generous with her time and had been known to occasionally claim only two things in life as her ultimate responsibility; both of whom survive her. Her eldest daughter, Mary, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her youngest daughter, Kim, resides on the ranch in Big Horn, Wyoming. We will both do our very best to honor her, and live out our lives in a world that is truly a little less unique than it was, just a few days ago. I would like to thank the Millcreek Wentworth staff members who cared for her, brought her endless cups of ice and coke, root beer or juice, painted her nails, opened the door for her after her outings on the smoking porch or just generally took time to laugh with her or exchange a story. Renew Hospice folks were there every day as well for the past year or so and helped make sense of “it all” during what ultimately became the end of life moments. Thank you. If you wish to remember our PK in any way, please, in lieu of flowers, send your donation in her name to either of two charities that speaks to you. The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee PO Box 393 Hohenwald, TN 38462 Or The Dog and Cat Shelter in Wyoming 84 East Ridge Road Sheridan, Wyoming 82801 We will remember mom always. We will plan a celebration of her life in the early summer of 2018 at her ranch in Wyoming. Date TBA. Important conversations led us to understand her wishes for cremation, and more importantly mini celebrations where we could sprinkle her ashes in several special places. We will look forward to mini celebrations throughout 2018 around the United States; Wyoming, Florida islands and beaches, Utah, Tennessee and ultimately Indiana where the majority of her ashes will lay to rest next to her mom and grandparents.