Betty L. Lybarger

On December 3, 2010, Betty Lou (McKee) Lybarger, 87 ½ , went to be with the Lord after suffering complications from a heart attack. Our mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend was much loved and will be greatly missed. She was an inspiration for her tenacity and never-give-up attitude.

She was born on May 28, 1923, to Wilma (Shupe) and Johnnie A. McKee at the family farm in rural Illinois near Macomb. She spoke fondly of her early childhood of getting up at 4 am to milk the cows, feed the other farm animals, help hitch up the horses for her dad to plow the fields, and do other chores before going off to the one room school down the road. She talked about having to pump water by hand from an outside well, use the out house, read by a kerosene lamp and get warm by or cook on the woodstove. Life was hard but she thrived and it is where she got her strength and determination to push through hardships.

After Betty graduated from high school, she met her life partner, Melvin (Mel) F. Lybarger, who was a pilot trainer in the Air Force during WWII. They were married at Maxwell Field Alabama on September 12, 1942, where he was stationed at the time. Mel made the military his career and Betty and he were stationed at bases in Hawaii, Ohio, Germany and California. They had Michael (Mike), Marsha, David (Dave), and Richard (Rick) while in the service. When Mel retired from the military, he went to work for the federal Economic Development Agency in Seattle and Betty and he moved from CA to Bellevue, Washington. During their time in Bellevue, Betty worked as a part time supervisor for the food service at the school Rick and Dave attended. When Mel retired from his second career, Betty and he moved to Marysville, WA to be close to friends they met in Bellevue. They built a lovely home on the Tulalip Indian Reservation overlooking the saltwater at Hermosa Beach. There they had the time of their life entertaining friends and family. It was also a great place to gather for the fourth of July where the fireworks would go on all night long.

Betty was a gifted seamstress, loved to do mosaics, did stained glass, was a rock hound and expert bridge player, enjoyed gardening, entertaining friends, and fixing up her house which was immaculately decorated. One of her favorite past times was to do the Sunday paper cross word puzzle. She loved to travel with Mel after his second retirement and they would spend a month every year in Honolulu, HI at the Hale Koa Hotel for military. There they made many friends and had great times. They also traveled to the yearly family reunions in Ill and to see their son, Mike and his family in CA.

Mel preceded Betty in death in 2000. She was also preceded in death by her parents and brothers John and Jim McKee. Betty is survived by her children, Mike Lybarger and wife Madeline, Marsha Beery, Rick Lybarger and wife Melinda, and Dave Lybarger and his wife Arlene. She is also survived by her sister Eleanor (McKee) Monninger, Normal IL. Betty has several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A public viewing will be held Thursday, December 9 from 10 am to 5 pm at the Mills and Mills Funeral Home 5725 Littlerock Road SW, Tumwater, WA. A buriel service will take place Friday, December 10 at 11:15 am at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Auburn WA followed by a memorial service at 2 pm at the Mills and Mills Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Legion Post 6, 221 East Washington Street, Macomb, Ill 61544 where Mel was a member for 50 years.