The Story of Rube's Rocks

Several years ago, Kelli (Mellor) Davis and her mom, Judy Mellor, both formerly of Broadus, were visiting Sheridan, Wyoming for Don King Days. The duo had been spending a lot of time together, experiencing life to the fullest, following Judy's Stage 4 ovarian cancer diagnosis.

While stopping for gas in Buffalo, the duo noticed a brightly painted rock which someone had placed on the gas pump. Written on the rock were the words "let your light shine", with directions to post a picture of the rock on a Facebook page of the same name.

During the trip back, mother and daughter discussed their find, and Judy hatched the idea of painting, hiding, and having people discover rocks of their own design.

Upon arriving home, Kelli looked at the special paint pens needed for painting rocks, recoiled at the price, and thought little more of the idea...that is, until Judy showed up with the special pens. The two quickly got to work, and thus was born "Rube's Rocks", a phenomenon which has now gone international, with rocks being painted, hidden, and discovered around the world.

We recently spoke with Kelli, in order to get to the "rock bottom" of this phenomenon.

The "Rube" in Rube's Rocks, according to Kelli, was a family inside joke name for Judy. Apparently, when Grandpa John Mellor heard of the name, he became angry, but John's son Jay replied that Judy was called Rube because she was such a gem.

Initially, the rocks were only painted by Judy and Kelli, as both a fun pastime to bring the two together, as well as a form of relaxing therapy to help cope with Judy's cancer.

Kelli, who lives in Spearfish, told us: "It was hard finding nice smooth river rocks in the Black Hills. One time I was up visiting my cousin, Vanessa Richards in Broadus, and she had a pile of river rocks in her back yard. She wondered why I was rifling through her rock pile, and I told her about our project."

Vanessa was thrilled with the idea, and wanted in. Soon, other Richards family members were involved, and the project expanded. Suddenly Rube's Rocks had a Facebook page where those who discovered the rocks could post their finds, and eventually seven family members became involved in painting the rocks – they were a way for the family to spend time together and do something fun, while continuing to bring joy to Judy. On occasion, guests were involved in the process, such as when PBR World Champion Bullrider and local cowboy Jess Lockwood helped paint rocks.

Rube's Rocks are found throughout Broadus, with many of the local businesses and organizations finding their own custom rocks. Here at the Examiner, we re-hid one of our Rube's Rocks throughout town over the last two summers, and when area youth returned the rock they were rewarded with certificates for ice cream.

At some point, the rocks began to travel, both during the family's travels as well as those of others in the community and beyond. The rocks have now reached such far-flung corners of the world as Australia, Scotland, and Italy. They've have found their way into Eric Church and Kelly Clarkson concerts, and rocks have even been made for Loretta Lynn and Kid Rock (a rock with the word "Kid" scrawled across the face). A Rube Rock found its way onto a Viking River Cruise, where the Captain of the ship was so enamored with the find that he kept it.

The rocks have been associated with the local Relay for Life, where they bring awareness of local cancer survivors. With that in mind, Kelli tells us that Rube's Rocks aren't for sale. "There's no money involved here. This is all for the love of my mom."

She continued: "Mom has spent her whole life making people happy, and when she sees our rocks posted online and sees the finder's smiling faces, that makes her day, and makes us happy to be a part of the whole project."

Kelli articulated to us that Judy's cancer has returned, and that she recently underwent the second of six chemo treatments, but she assures us that Judy is doing well.

Kelli disclosed: "If you find a Rube Rock, send a little prayer out for Judy."