Kathleen Ann Ely

Kathleen Ann Ely passed the morning of December 20, 2025. She was born May 11, 1937 in Stockville, Nebraska. She was the second of nine children born to Vera and Jeptha Claflin. When she was still very young, they moved to Woodrow, Colorado where she spent most of her childhood. Her days were spent helping her dad on the farm. She had many stories she liked to share about growing up, but one of her favorites was telling us about driving the grain truck during harvest. She enjoyed the outdoors and spent as much time outside as she could.
She attended a dance where she met the love of her life, Laurence Ely. They were married on May 29th 1954. Together they built their life in the Gary Community.
They had their first child in 1955. Around that same time, she opened and ran a café out of their home. She named it after her first son, Jerry's Café. In 1960, they moved their home down the road to its present location.
By 1967 she was raising 6 kids, cooking, sewing, and gardening. She never missed an opportunity to be present for her children, attending every sports game or activity she could.
In their 40s Laurence and Kathleen found a love of square dancing. She hand-made every dress and shirt they wore to dance in so they would match perfectly. Many evenings and weekends were spent traveling to dances with close friends all over Eastern Colorado and Western Nebraska.
She loved to ride motorcycles. She and one of her close friends were part-runners for the guys whenever they needed something and would ride the bikes into town. Laurence and Kathleen would often go on rides together on the bikes.
Later in life, as the kids grew and needed her less, she found time to evolve her everyday chores into her life's passion. Her Cinnamon rolls & Cabbage pockets were famous and sought by all. She spent countless hours embroidering, quilting blankets, and crocheting everything under the sun for her grandchildren, including baptismal dresses, first communion dresses, and baby dresses for special occasions.
Above all, she spent her time bringing joy to others.
Then the grandbabies came, and her heart grew tenfold. She was known as the baby whisperer; there wasn't a fussy baby she couldn't soothe. Her days quickly filled with babysitting, birthdays, and teaching. She loved to share her passions with all her grandkids. As her grandkids learned from Kathleen, many yards of crochet chains were strung about her house. They used her quilt stretcher to make the best forts around, and they all fought over who got to lick the spoon when baking with Grandma. You never left Grandma's house hungry or without a cookie!
When it came to supporting the grandkids in activities and sports, they all knew without fail that Grandma and Grandpa would be in the stands cheering us on.
As they aged, Laurence and Kathleen leaned on one another. He was her eyes, and she was his ears. They spent 69 years guiding each other through life, and we are sure he was there to welcome her home.
She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 70 years, Laurence Ely; her parents, Vera and Jeptha Claflin; her sisters, Barbara Cunning, Jean Wiltfang, Nancy Harbert, and Betty Gish; and her brothers Joe Claflin and Wayne Claflin.
Kathleen is survived by her children and grandchildren: Jerry (Peggy) Ely- Darcy Blaisdell and Audrey Ely; Linda Ely; Mike (Amy) Ely- Erin Goff, Matt Ely and Chris Ely; Joe (Suzanne) Ely-Taylor Ely, Dustin Ely and Cody Ely; Andy (Cyndi) Ely- Connor Ely, Nevaeh Ely, Heaven Ely, Kaydence Lorenz and Felicity Lorenz; Sarah Walker- Dakota Alber and 17-Great Grandchildren and counting. Surviving siblings include: Lyle Claflin and Patricia Turner.

Arrangements for Kathleen's celebration of life are to be determined at a later date.

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