Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

Long time Worland resident, Kitsy Barnes, passed away in Worland, Wyoming on December 5th at the age of 66. Kitsy was born December 29, 1950 in Ridgecrest, California. She was the daughter of Dr. Howard R. Kelly and Dorothy A. Kelly. Her father worked as a scientist at a navy base in China Lake, CA where Kitsy grew up chasing lizards in the desert, playing ball with her brothers, and climbing trees. She was a girl scout, Job's Daughter, and a beloved camp counselor, which is where she honed her outdoor skills and passed on her love of the wilderness to other girls.

After graduating from Burroughs High School in Ridgecrest CA, she attended Humboldt State University (HSU) in Arcata CA and graduated with a B.S. in Biology coupled with a teaching credential. It was here that she met her life-long companion and husband, Darrell C. Barnes. They married in June 1974 a day after they graduated and have been married for 42 years. After many adventures spread out over numerous states, Darrell and Kitsy moved to Worland, Wyoming where they fell in love with the natural beauty of the area and decided to call it home.

Kitsy was a dedicated and gifted teacher who enjoyed broadening her students' horizons. She was a substitute teacher before becoming a full-time teacher of biology at Worland High School from 1997 to 2015. During this time she also coordinated the academic challenge team and assisted the swim team for over a decade. Kitsy was elected to the Washakie County Conservation District in 2008 and served as the Secretary/Treasurer and environmental representative on the board for two 3-year terms. She was also active in the Presbyterian Church where she was ordained as an elder and a deacon and worked hard to support the camping ministry within her denomination.

Kitsy loved M&Ms, hiking, scuba diving, traveling, nature, and especially bats. Her fascination with bats came later in her career when she began to work with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to conduct bat surveys. She also involved her students in these activities and was subsequently given the beloved nickname, 'bat lady.'

Kitsy was well known for her loyalty to others, her smile, laughter, and gentle nature. She was a person with extraordinary and diverse gifts; a dedicated mother, friend, sister, teacher, and wife. She is survived by her husband Darrell Barnes of Worland; by her daughter Robin Barnes-Pohjonen of Bethlehem, PA and her son David Barnes of Bozeman, MT; by her grandchildren Hendrix Barnes-Pohjonen (PA) and Woody Barnes (MT). She is also survived by her sister Laury Yearsley of Perth, Australia; and by her brothers John Kelly of Mount Shasta, CA and Rick Kelly of Perth Australia.

A memorial service will be held at the Worland Middle School Auditorium on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at 4:00 pm. A reception with coffee and snacks will follow the service at First Presbyterian Church. Memorial gifts may be made to Wyoming Presbytery Camp Fund or First Presbyterian Church of Worland care of, Veile Mortuary, P.O. Box 730 Worland, WY 82401.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Veile Mortuary.