Libby and I were very close in age - 2 1/2 months apart; that connection made it so easy to be with her and to pick up where we left off whenever we didn't see each other for a while. In our younger years, our family came up to Oregon several summers to visit all the family who still lived there; I remember days of running around the yard at her family house until we dropped from exhaustion.
I flew to Oregon for a wonderful 2 weeks in Dallas with Libby and her family shortly after high school graduation - we had a day at the coast (my introduction to Newport and Mo's, along with a quick stop at Salishan!), went to the movies to see MASH, and enjoyed an afternoon swimming in the Dalton's swimming hole. Libby was working at the cannery that summer. (Green beans, I think - I remember her saying she'd never eat a canned bean after that job!) With her encouragement, I bought my first pair of 501's on that trip!
After we moved to Alaska, Libby and I tried to get together every time we were in Seattle. She was such a huge support for me when those trips included medical appointments. We shared some great meals and had fun with family memories and catching up on each other's lives.
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Libby and I went on many “adventures” from the moment we met each other 15 years ago. They always involved somewhere new we hadn’t been, mostly in the PNW, although the most recent one took us to Nova Scotia for 10 days this past August. There were art exhibits; a restaurant we just “had” to experience; a ballet or opera; hiking in the mountains or at the beach. Many times we’d “pivot” from the original plan, then spend the next day or two congratulating ourselves on how flexible and brilliant we were! We would often find ourselves laughing until we could barely breathe over pretty much nothing at all, which would make us laugh even harder.
But one adventure stands out from all the rest as an example of her heartfelt and thoughtful friendship. Even though neither of us cared much for Las Vegas, I would occasionally ask if she’d consider going sometime just to see Cirque de Soleil’s Beatles Love show, which I had seen numerous times. She would decline. A year ago when it was clear that the show would be closing, I said I was going to do a quick overnight to see it for the last time, asked if she would go. She declined, then called two days later to say, “Let’s do it!” We did, and encountered an insanely busy weekend everywhere in town, barely space to move in any direction. So we chose to lounge about in our hotel room all afternoon for a wonderful long visit. We had a nice dinner, went to the show, and flew home the next morning (Libby so thoroughly enjoyed her first Cirque show that she saw a different one in London several months later.)
As I was telling another friend about this afterwards, I began to weep as I it dawned on me that Libby had agreed to this adventure only because she knew how important it was to me. I called her immediately to let her know shed been “found out,” and to express my deep appreciation and affection for her friendship.
Libby was one of a kind, our friendship a bright light in my life.
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Libby and I met 40+ years ago when we both worked at the hospital in Lincoln City. She was one of a kind. Good person, good friend. She will be forever missed.
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Libby and I worked together for many years at KVH and later at Yakima Memorial. In fact, I was one of the very first people she coordinated with during her interview for Chief Financial Officer at KVH. In true Libby fashion, she was a wreck worrying about the video connection for her virtual meeting and we worked it all out, behind the scenes in advance. That gave me any early understanding of how humble, genuine and at times fragile our beloved Libby could be. What I learned over the years of working with her is that she was a master class to watch and learn how to be a strong, independent woman who fought the right fight when needed and then bring that fragility into place when empathy and kindness where needed. Libby often spoke of you, Helen. I don’t think you and I are too far apart in age (I might be older, darn it!) and I loved seeing how much your mom loved you. She was so proud to share stories about your career, how brilliant you are and your adventurous spirit. We’ve never met but your mom did such a wonderful job sharing about you, I feel I already know you. Libby will be missed in so many ways and my flavor of missing are these; a friend, mentor, goofy partner in crime at work, a healthcare industry icon and a role model. God speed, Libby. We’ll take it from here knowing you’re a part of us in everything we do.
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Libby-you are a cherished one of my people. In this short time we shared on Earth-I knew you to be a reasonable, carefully thought individual. If you liked a canning recipe, it's because it really was the best. You were a champion of the underdog, and threw your support behind anyone you believed wanted to move forward for the right reasons. I loved your laugh-it felt like whatever was funny took you by surprise in a way that allowed you to experience the moment-wholly and completely. You were kind, but not in a thoughtless, habitual way. A master of discernment, maybe even intimidating at times, but really just a softy; a loving, reserved, intelligent human that I am glad to have known.
Peace be with you, Libby, and all of us that continue to love you.
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Libby and I met when our girls, Chelsea and Helen, were in Girl Scouts together. We all became close friends. We had many years of Mother’s Day brunches with the 4 of us at Salty’s in West Seattle. Libby and I even went to Kauai together for a girl’s trip! May her memory be a blessing.
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2002, Mercer Island, WA, USA
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