Elizabeth E. Jarvis

Elizabeth Eleanor Robinson Jarvis was born in Schaller, Iowa on March 7, 1912. Her parents were Mary Bailey Robinson and James Duncan Robinson. Her five siblings preceded her in death. Schaller was Elizabeth's home town where she graduated high school in 1930. She attended and graduated Iowa State Teacher's College (now UNI). During 1932-1934, she taught grade school at Schaller.

In 1934, Elizabeth married Fred M. Jarvis in a garden wedding in Schaller. They had two children, their son Byford Duncan ("Bud") and their daughter Joanie or Joan. In 1946, the family moved from Schaller to a farm they purchased on the southwest edge of Alta. Elizabeth was a dedicated teacher who loved teaching and loved her many students. She taught in the Alta Public School System for twenty-five years, primarily second grade and was a treasured teacher. Since 1976, Elizabeth remained a widow and continued to reside on the cherished family farm where family and friends regularly visited, their always being welcomed, served delicious meals or refreshments, and where one and all felt at home.

Throughout her adult life, Elizabeth was active in the Alta Presbyterian Church, PEO, Eastern Star and other professional, honorary educational organizations. She greatly enjoyed spending time with people, reading books, traveling, singing hymns and initiating daily fitness walking, logging miles around Storm Lake and the Alta high school track. At age 95, she relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska to be with her daughter Joan and youngest granddaughter Rachel with whom she asked both to oversee her eventual elder care needs.

Throughout her 104 wonderful quality years of living life to the fullest regardless of circumstance(s), Elizabeth lived up to her given name as one defined meaning for Elizabeth translates as "My God is abundance". In the Holy Bible, Jesus spoke in John 10:10, "I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Elizabeth's earthly life exemplified this Bible verse as she embraced countless giving opportunities where she availed herself, her time, her effort, her talents and financial means so that others could live and experience an abundant life, too and share in the same Blessed Assurance.

In addition to her generous, giving, caring, supportive and adventurous spirit, Elizabeth will always be remembered for her positive outlook on life, her well-disposed personality, her thankful heart, her enterprising way that reflected readiness to help, independence and determination as well as interdependence, her strength of character, her dignified, fashionable style, her cooperative peacemaker mindset and her uplifting "therapeutic" presence that extended unconditional love, acceptance, calmness, enrichment and appreciation to everyone. Yes, Elizabeth was a one-of-a-kind very special person and beloved family member whose endearing presence will be greatly missed and forever valued.

In closing, Elizabeth lived a healthy, upright and Christian faith-filled lifestyle that was family focused, her having two children, six grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. Therefore, her immediate living family members include son Byford (wife Rachel), children or grandchildren/great-grandchildren: Dan (Janet) Emily and Christopher; Tom (Susan) Trent and Jenna; Paul (Melanie) James and Hannah; Ann (David), Ben, Michael and Katelyn; daughter Joan (husband Ed), children or grandchildren/great-grandchildren: Rachel (widow); Nathan (Michelle) Joshua, Caleb, Abigail, Anna and Elizabeth.

This was compiled and typed by granddaughter Rachel Elizabeth Stivers-Stewart (widow) of Lincoln, Nebraska.