Dorothy May (McElwain) Barnaby, 87

Dorothy May (McElwain) Barnaby, 87, a many-year resident of Columbia Falls, passed away in Renton, Washington, Sept. 12,  2015. “She is now reunited with her husband of 66 years, Ralph,” who passed away in January of this year.

Dorothy was born March 24, 1928, in the family home in Halfmoon, just north of Columbia Falls. She was raised in Columbia Falls where she graduated from high school. She then attended Montana State Normal College (Western) in Dillon where she received her Associate of Arts degree in teaching.

 Upon arriving in Dillon she met Ralph (the big man on campus). They married while in college and then returned to Columbia Falls in 1949 when Ralph was offered a teaching job. She also began teaching elementary school in the Columbia Falls School District, but cut her teaching career short to start raising her family.

She was known to have a beautiful garden that she was always working to make even better. She was one of the moms who truly had it all! — A family who loved and respected her and a job that she enjoyed.

Dorothy was an amazing and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, daughter and sister. She was always there for her family, including helping raise many of her grandchildren. She will be missed by all who loved and cared for her.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph, and infant son Wayne Michael; also, her parents Cecil and Mildred McElwain; and two brothers, Cecil and LeRoy McElwain.

She is survived by nine of her 10 children, Ralph Barnaby Jr. and Elana, Linda Moldestad and Norman, Elaine Thompson and Nels Maki, David Barnaby and Barbara, Mary Driscoll and Mike, Laura Couty and Pete, Robert Barnaby and Jacey, Barbara Cozza and Sam, and Margaret Pfeifle and Scott; 25 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and her sister, Vera McElwain.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 5, at St. Richard’s Catholic Church in Columbia Falls.