Waneta R. Elliott

Waneta Rae Elliott, 71, beloved sister, aunt, friend, and educator passed away on Friday, June 2, 2017, at North Colorado Medical Center, Greeley, Colorado. Waneta was born in Salem, Indiana. She then moved to Windsor, Colorado in 1948. In 1955 she moved to Greeley and attended the Greeley school system. She graduated from Greeley High School in 1963. She enrolled at Colorado State College (now the University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley and earned bachelor and master’s degrees. After college graduation, she became a management trainee/buyer for Fashion Bar living in Denver. After three years, she moved to Kansas to begin her educational experience. This included teaching at Dodge City Community College, Dodge City, Kansas; Derby High School, Derby, Kansas; and Pittsburgh State University, Pittsburgh, Kansas. In 1980 she moved back to Greeley and began a successful and rewarding 34-year career at Greeley West High School.

Waneta was devoted to Greeley West students both in their academic and athletic endeavors. Her home economics classes were popular, and students knew that the skills they learned were practical and essential to their independent living. As a coordinator for the vocational at-risk student program, she taught how to be employable and the importance of work ethic. An added bonus was learning employment skills on the job for credit and experience. When she became a guidance counselor, she continued to go the extra mile making sure that her counselees graduated, knew of deadlines for college applications, and received all the financial aid that was available to them. In addition to her commitment to teaching, Waneta was an avid supporter of the students’ many co-curricular activities--she coached, refereed volleyball, kept the scoring books, and sponsored cheerleaders, Future Homemakers of America, and Student Council to name a few. She truly made a difference in the lives of thousands of Greeley West students. She was a Spartan through and through.

After her retirement from Greeley West High School, Waneta became even more involved in the community. She was on the Aims Foundation Board, Alternative Homes for Youth, the American Cancer Society Tennis Tournament, the Tennis Association of Greeley Board, just to name of few. She was also learning to play bridge and enjoyed going to that a few times a week.

Waneta is survived by her siblings Bonnie Anderson (Pete), Ellen Bradley (Harold), Donald Elliott (Jan), LeRoy Elliott (Gwen); ten nieces and nephews; twenty-one great nieces and nephews; and four great great nephews and niece.

A visitation will be held from 4-6:00 P.M. Sunday, June 11, 2017, at the Allnutt Macy Chapel, 702 13th Street, Greeley. A service to celebrate her life will be held at 11 A.M. Monday, June 12, 2017, at Greeley West High School, 2401 35th Ave, Greeley, with a reception following. Private interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th St., Greeley, Colorado 80631.

Please visit www.allnutt.com to send condolences via the Guest book registry.