Elizabeth H. Stark

MARION ELIZABETH CHITTY HARBY STARK, but most often known to many as “BETTY” or “GRANNY”, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning, September 22, 2010. Betty was a remarkable lady who will be missed greatly by her family, but also by her friends who covered many generations. Her well lived and long life is the story of a Matriarch in the best sense of the word because she raised lots of children and with considerable success.

Betty was born on December 31, 1916 in Jacksonville, Florida, the third child of Arthur Benjamin and Hazel Talitha (Brown) Chitty. She grew up on Riverside Avenue in a home built by her father. When her mother died, Betty was only thirteen. So she assumed great responsibility for her younger sisters and brother. This sense of responsibility carried her through school where she attended West Riverside, John Gorrie and Robert E. Lee High School. She enrolled at Florida State College for Women (FSCW- now FSU) where she pledged Pi Beta Phi. However, after one year she returned home as her father insisted, “one year was enough education for a woman.” Many did not know of her lovely singing voice which landed her a weekly radio show with the late Henry Grumbles. The show called “A Melody Maiden & a Man” featured duets of all the hits of the day.

In 1940, she married Vernon Earl Harby who started what is now Harby Jewelers. Within a year they built their home on McGirts Boulevard. This has been “home” to her family ever since.

In September 1962, she became widowed at the young age of forty-five with the premature death of her husband, Earl. Three years later, she married William Davidson Stark, Jr. “Beefy”, who happened to be Earl’s best friend and best man in his wedding. As her family grew she was known for festive occasions with family and friends and always good food. When Beefy died this did not lessen her spirit as she looked closely to her grandchildren for their love, friendships and other opportunities to mother when she could. Amelia by the Sea or the “Barnacle” became a second home and place of tranquility for her, her family and new friends on the island. She never feared being alone and handled it with great style.

While she was raised and married in the Riverside Baptist Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church became her church home base where she served on the Altar Guild and sponsored EYC with her husband, Earl. She also attended the First Presbyterian Church in Fernandina Beach. One of her life’s highlights was the seven year Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), which she completed at age 88.

Betty was an unassuming beauty, efficient and organized, thoughtful - known for her “notes and totes” left behind. She had the keenest of minds and a sharp, dry wit that never left her - even at the end. Her family was her life and inspiration. She was always about home, family, friendship, and that is how she will be remembered.

She was preceded in death by her husbands: Earl (1962) and Beefy (1976); her daughter: Mandy Harby Miller (1985), two brothers and two sisters: Arthur Ben and Billy Chitty, Mary Ann Chitty Ballard, Dolly Chitty Day. Betty is survived by her children: Hazel Harby Donahoo (Tom) and Fred Harby (Sharon); grandchildren: Tommy Donahoo Jr. (Jennifer), Liz Donahoo Bishop (Tom), Ted Miller (Mary Claire), Nathan Miller (Kat), Matthew Miller (Leah), Katie Harby Neuman (John), and Will Harby; 13 great-grandchildren: Jane and Mitchell Donahoo, Quinn, Evelyn, and Hannah Miller, Mandy and Annie Miller, Jackson Earl Miller, Elizabeth (Liza) Chitty, Tommy, James, and twins John and Michael Bishop; her sister: Gertrude Chitty Terry of Vero Beach; loyal friend, Marie Cason; 21 nieces and nephews, 35 great nieces and nephews, 7 great-great nieces and nephews…with more on the way; numerous cousins and countless friends and admirers.

On Friday, September 24, 2010 there will be a family burial with her five grandsons as her honor guards followed by a memorial service at 11:30 am at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 4129 Oxford Avenue with a reception to follow in Leatherbury Hall.

Her extended family wishes to thank the kind staff at Sterling House and Community Hospice for their loving care during the last few weeks. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School or St. Mark’s Episcopal Church where her “grands” and “greats” are still active or to the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens where she spent 30 years as a most faithful docent.

Arrangement by Hardage-Giddens Edgewood Chapel, 729 South Edgewood Avenue.