Elizabeth “Libby” M. Meyer passed away peacefully at home in Everett, WA on August 12, 2024. She was 108 years old.
A Mass and celebration of life will take place at St. Brendan’s parish in September. Libby was a lifelong Catholic and will be interned at Holyrood Cemetery in Shoreline, WA, alongside her husband, Donald E Meyer, who predeceased her on March 9, 1994.
Libby was born in her grandparents’ house in Dubuque, Iowa on June 13, 1916. Her parents were Frank and Ruth Schmitz. Libby had four younger sisters, all of whom predeceased her. In 1934 she graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy in Des Moines, Iowa and received full scholarships to a number of colleges in Iowa. Unfortunately, her mother did not allow her to graduate.
Libby married Donald E Meyer on September 9, 1940 in Dubuque. When he was drafted in 1943 she followed him to wherever he was stationed in the US. In 1945 he was sent to The Philippine Islands and Japan. Libby said good-bye to him in San Francisco and then returned home to Dubuque to await the birth of their first child.
In 1956 she and her husband moved to Seattle, WA where he was newly employed by Boeing. Libby singlehandedly packed up their entire house in Dubuque and accompanied her six children by train to Seattle. In later years, Libby herself was also employed by the Boeing Company.
She was a remarkable woman. She was a gifted artist, producing many paintings and pieces of pottery and stitchery throughout her lifetime. She had always wanted to finish her education and eventually, at the age of 70, graduated from Seattle Pacific University in 1986 with a degree in Fine Arts.
She had many friends and admirers and loved to be with people. She enjoyed reading books and was a talented amateur writer. She had tremendous energy and enthusiasm. Her children were privileged to have a talented mother who introduced them to art galleries and exhibits that most young children never see. She also taught art classes at St. Francis of Assisi grade school.
Survivors include her six children: Laurie Meyer, Leslie (Jim) Sharkey, Donald Meyer (Dianne Grossman), David (Dale) Meyer, Dennis (Jo) Meyer and Daniel (Patti) Meyer. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Stephanie (Chris) Collins, Amy Sharkey, Nicholas (Taylor) Meyer, Alex (Amy) Meyer and Leticia Meyer. She has one Great-granddaughter, Natalie Collins.
Our family had a wonderful and loving mother and friend, and we are grateful.
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