Elizabeth Harvey was a very determined person from an early age, who enjoyed being where the action was. However, her desire in life was to make a difference and to help those around her. Libby, as she was known to family and friends, did just that.

She was a graduate of the nursing school at East Tennessee State University, and had worked at the old St. Elizabeth Hospital and Franklin Clinic in Elizabethton as well as the old Carter County Memorial Hospital. “She was an emergency room nurse, and it was nothing for Libby to work past her eight hour or ten-hour shift. She always wanted to be where the action was, and where there was a need, she was ready to help,” said her sister, Carolyn Welch.

Carolyn and her sister, Libby, came to Elizabethton with their parents, J.T. and Louise Leath in the early 40s from Little Rock, Ark. “My father worked with the Army Corps of Engineers and he had come here earlier to do some work at the local rayon plants. While here, he fell in love with Northeast Tennessee and when he came home, he informed my mother we were moving. That was that, we came here on a train in the early 40s and we’ve been here ever since,” Carolyn shared.

Libby was married to the late Claude Harvey. She and Claude had a son and daughter, Bryon and Rachel. Rachel died earlier this spring. Her two children, Addie and Harry live in Rochester, NY.

Libby was also preceded in death by a sister, Linda Sue Leath Wallace.

“Libby was a very giving person. She was director of ARM in its earlier years, when it was located in the old Franklin Clinic building, and later she served as a volunteer with the organization, working a half day each week. Libby also for many years was a volunteer with the local Red Cross blood drives and with Meals on Wheels. If she knew of a cause and believed in its mission, Libby was always ready to jump in and get involved. She had a very big heart and was a very caring person,” said Carolyn. “She gave her car to a friend when she could no longer drive. She probably had known the woman no more than a month or two. But, she’d give you the shirt of her back if she thought you needed it.”

After her husband died, Libby became a foster parent.

Libby was a life-long member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elizabethton. “During the earlier years of the church, there were a lot more members than the church has today. Many of the Germans, who came here to work at the rayon plants attended the church and it was a very active congregation,” Carolyn shared.

Watauga Lake was a favorite get-away spot for Libby, who for a time had a houseboat on the lake and lived in it. “She especially enjoyed the parade of boats on July the Fourth,” shared Carolyn.

About her living on the houseboat, Carolyn explained that Libby was always open to adventure…in fact, she was a “dare-devil.”

“You didn’t tell her no. In fact, she had a few battle scars from her childhood to prove it,” said Carolyn, who also mentioned that Libby was a good cook. In fact, she was known to many as the “bread lady.” She was known for her rye bread.

“She and Dr. James Ross, who was an emergency room doctor for a time at the old Carter County Memorial Hospital had a penchant for corned beef and cabbage. He’d buy the corn beef, and she’d make the rye bread and cook the cabbage. I think the entire emergency room staff feasted on the corn beef and cabbage when Libby prepared it,” Carolyn shared.

“Dementia finally got her and she spent her last days and years at Ivy Hall Nursing Home,” Carolyn shared. Libby died Nov. 14 at the age of 81.

But, oh the memories Libby left for those who knew her and called her friend. She had a lot of what all of us need a little bit of – love, a caring and giving heart, and the courage of stepping up and doing the task at hand.

A celebration of Elizabeth Harvey’s life will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church.