Barbara Van Ellen

Barbara (Tackitt) Van Ellen passed away May 16, 2019 at her home in Smith Bend after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 71. The family will hold a private memorial to honor her life. Barbara was born September 9, 1947 in Wortham. As the child of a career Air Force officer, Barbara was able to travel the world before she settled down in her home town of Wortham where she graduated in 1967. She soon became the proud mother of two daughters. Barbara worked at Owen Mills for a little over 20 years where she made many life-long friends. Barbara was an accomplished artist both in paint and digital. She also enjoyed photography, the ocean and raising squirrels. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, William Nathan Sr. and Betty Tackitt and a brother, William Nathan Jr. She is survived by her brothers, Michael Tackitt and Lloyd Tackitt and his wife Susie, and a sister-in-law, Bonnie Tackitt. She had two daughters, Misty Lynn Van Ellen and Kimberly Dawn Taylor and her husband Donald. Barbara had six grandchildren and three great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews and many other family members. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the MD Anderson Cancer Center or your local humane society.