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Elizabeth Arlene Strawser, 89, passed away on Jan. 9, 2024, in Belington, West Virginia.
She was born on Nov. 17, 1934, in Preston County, West Virginia, and was the second daughter of Harry Martin Strawser, coal miner, and Jessie Louise Wolfe Strawser, homemaker.
Elizabeth ('Sis' to much of her family and 'Libby' to many friends) graduated from Morgantown High School and went on to dedicate her entire career to the Social Security Administration. For as long as she was able, she loved to travel and visit with family and friends. She was a good neighbor, a great cook, and a devoted friend. After retiring, she lived in several mountain towns before eventually resettling in Elkins, West Virginia, where she developed her most cherished skill and passion -- quilting. Elizabeth's quilting began when she inherited the heavy, wooden quilting frame that her father had built for her mother. Though she discovered her love of quilting relatively late in life, most people who knew Elizabeth associated her with quilting in some way. She preferred traditional patterns and was prolific in her craft. In many ways, Elizabeth's quilts were much like her as a person - she was the stitching that kept friends and family together. She held both histories and updates for everyone in her family. She made and kept friends for a lifetime. She never made decisions lightly, as if each one would inevitably impact a later outcome. Sure, there were always ravelins and maybe a few pin pricks, but the outcomes were always worth the little rips, wrinkles, and tears along the way. In her final days, Elizabeth was offered any one of her quilts to make her more comfortable. She declined them all because, of course, those quilts were never really for her. Instead, she was surrounded by friends and loved ones to keep her warm. Elizabeth's beautiful quilts and our memories of her will grace our lives in her absence. She will be remembered as a fierce friend, a loving family member, and a strong woman who never let her burden touch the ground.
Elizabeth is survived by her siblings, Clifford Douglas (wife Bonnie) and Paula Rose (husband Bob).
She is also survived by her daughters, Debra Harris Dollar and Lyla D'ann Harris-Blevin; and grandchildren, Jessica Greta Marie Irons, Charles Michael Dollar, Steven Richard Dollar, Sarah Elizabeth Harris-Blevin and Annacler Ly. She was a proud great-grandmother to Carter Wray Irons, Griffin Elliott Fitzgerald and Kien Harris Ly. She was also beloved by MANY nieces, nephews and friends.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, Harry Martin Strawser and Jessie Louise Wolfe Strawser; siblings, Audray Nadine Strawser, Lyla Kathleen Strawser, Constance Elaine Peterson, Glenna Ruth Anderson, and Harry Martin Strawser Jr.; and grandson, Aaron Scott Irons.
In memory of Elizabeth, contributions can be made to The American Red Cross, an organization to which she volunteered much of her time in the early years of her retirement. Donations can be made online at https://www.red cross.org/donate /donation.html/.
In accordance with Elizabeth's wishes, her remains were contributed to the West Virginia University Human Gift Registry located in Morgantown, West Virginia.