My wonderful life on this earth ended on Saturday December 13, 2025 at the young age of 65 in the comfort of my own home in Lexington, Virginia surrounded and embraced by my loving family.
Though I am at peace, I can tell you that I was not ready to die. I loved my life and I was living my dream and my heart's desire with the love of my life and my soul-mate, Jim Oliphant. I was blessed. We raised three amazing children together and I loved you all so dearly. It pained my heart to leave you. Son, Kris Oliphant, son Aaron Oliphant and daughter Heather Oliphant. I was doubly blessed with the gift of grandchildren. Five in all. Taylor Oliphant, Andrew Oliphant, Grey Melson, Red Oliphant and Graceson (Stover) Oliphant. Five fine, handsome boys. I loved being a grandma. I was known as Yia-Yia to my grandchildren.
And I must not forget all the loving cats that claimed us as their own and loved us their entire lives. Thank you Callie, Pokey, Dexter, Buns and Lulu. You brought me so much joy and laughter. And one special dog from my childhood, Fred.
It all began in Des Moines, Iowa. I was born Monday, August 1, 1960 to Sharon and John Batye. I grew up a “tom-boy” with two brothers, Don and Jon and a sister Robyn. When I was a child my family said I talked so much my nickname was, “Chief flapping-jaws with mouth like running river.” My dad was a truck driver and we moved a lot growing up. We lived in California and Arizona for a while just to name a few places. Eventually, we made our way back to Des Moines, Iowa and a little house on Washington Street. That is where I had the most wonderful memories of being a kid and playing in our huge backyard. We played football, baseball, tag and climbed trees. We even had a grumpy neighbor that would keep our balls and call the police when they went into his yard. We were on a first name basis with the police.
I attended Stowe Elementary School and May Goodrell Middle School. I went to East High school and I was in the Steppers, the schools step-dance team, my junior (1976-1977) and senior (1977-1978) years. I loved being a Stepper. I kept my uniform all these years. After trying out, I was worried I did not make it. But shortly after try-outs, early one Saturday morning, my sister Robyn (we share a bedroom) were awakened to a bunch of screaming girls in their pajamas outside our bedroom window. Robyn was not so happy about it all. I was thrilled. It was the Stepper team. I had made it. They whisked me away in my pajamas to a celebration breakfast.
It was also at East High school that I met my soul-mate, Jim Oliphant. We met only a few months before graduation and married November 3, 1978. When we met, we both said it felt like, “Oh, there you are!” It was as if we had known and loved each other before. It was so right. And our lifetime together proved it true. I will love you forever Jim.
Some of my favorite trips in my life were our family vacation to Yellowstone when I was in my teens. The trips I took with the East High School Steppers. Our many family trips to Carolina Beach. Our family trip to St. Louis was so much fun. We stopped wherever we wanted along the way. I loved when Jim and I went to Puerto Rico and our weekend get-away to Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.
Throughout my life I greatly enjoyed reading, crafting, sewing and crocheting. My grandma Powers taught me to sew. Each of my children and grandchildren have crocheted blankets, “Pokey” hats and special projects that were made with love, and I hope, are filled with as many memories for them as they were for me.
Designing and making jewelry was a real passion of mine. I had quite the set up. Over the years I slowly took over Jim's closet with all of my jewelry supplies. But he never really seemed to mind. He knew it made me happy.
But more than all that, I loved singing and making music with my husband, Jim. We preformed professionally for several years as RagTop. I so enjoyed it. We loved being together all the time. And we were good. We made so many great friends and memories along the way. We retired in 2022 due to health issues. But you can still see us entertaining together and you can still hear me sing and wearing some of my beautiful jewelry. We kept our social media in place from those times for memories sake and to keep our special time together alive. I would be honored if you would visit them to remember me at www.MyRagTop.com.
Jim and I shared these words with family and friends when I entered hospice care at home. They meant so much to me then, so I share them here with you now:
“we did it! When we first met, we just knew we would spend a lifetime together. We fell in love and our dream was to get married, have children and grandchildren and grow old together. And our journey began.
The words, 'grow old together' seem so easy to say when you are 18 years old. They sound like a line from a song or a movie. But they are so much more. November 3rd we celebrated our 47th anniversary.
It has been a long Summer for us. Renee has been very sick. We have had almost every lab test possible it seems and every imaging and scan available. We have traveled miles to see various doctors. And while we did, Renee became more ill. Mid-week last week ended with an emergency room-to-emergency room transfer to move Renee to a hospital that could treat her.
As I am writing these words it feels unimaginable that I even think them, let alone say them out loud. But our journey ends here. Renee began home hospice care yesterday. And now the end of “Us” is very near. “And grow old together.” means so much more that two 18 year old young people setting out on this adventure could have ever imagined or understood. But now we do. It is a gift to grow old together.
Goodbye my lover. Goodbye my friend. We will find each other again. ... we did it babe!”
I was proceeded in death by my mother, Sharon Batye, my father, John Batye and brother Don Batye. Maternal grandparents George and Virginia Powers and paternal grandparents Red and Vivian Batye.
Surviving are my beloved husband, Jim Oliphant. My son, Kris Oliphant, My son Aaron Oliphant and his wife, our daughter-in-love, Casey Oliphant. Daughter, Heather Oliphant and amazing son-in-law Chris West. Grandchildren Taylor Oliphant, Andrew Oliphant, Grey Melson, Red Oliphant and Graceson (Stover) Oliphant. A Brother, Jon Batye and Sister Robyn Huxford And a host of friends and loved ones.
I was cremated and will be laid to rest at a private graveside service in Evergreen Burial Park Roanoke, Virginia followed by a Celebration of Life in the Spring of 2026.
Though I am at peace, I can tell you that I was not ready to die. I loved my life and I was living my dream and my heart's desire with the love of my life and my soul-mate, Jim Oliphant. I was blessed. We raised three amazing children together and I loved you all so dearly. It pained my heart to leave you. Son, Kris Oliphant, son Aaron Oliphant and daughter Heather Oliphant. I was doubly blessed with the gift of grandchildren. Five in all. Taylor Oliphant, Andrew Oliphant, Grey Melson, Red Oliphant and Graceson (Stover) Oliphant. Five fine, handsome boys. I loved being a grandma. I was known as Yia-Yia to my grandchildren.
And I must not forget all the loving cats that claimed us as their own and loved us their entire lives. Thank you Callie, Pokey, Dexter, Buns and Lulu. You brought me so much joy and laughter. And one special dog from my childhood, Fred.
It all began in Des Moines, Iowa. I was born Monday, August 1, 1960 to Sharon and John Batye. I grew up a “tom-boy” with two brothers, Don and Jon and a sister Robyn. When I was a child my family said I talked so much my nickname was, “Chief flapping-jaws with mouth like running river.” My dad was a truck driver and we moved a lot growing up. We lived in California and Arizona for a while just to name a few places. Eventually, we made our way back to Des Moines, Iowa and a little house on Washington Street. That is where I had the most wonderful memories of being a kid and playing in our huge backyard. We played football, baseball, tag and climbed trees. We even had a grumpy neighbor that would keep our balls and call the police when they went into his yard. We were on a first name basis with the police.
I attended Stowe Elementary School and May Goodrell Middle School. I went to East High school and I was in the Steppers, the schools step-dance team, my junior (1976-1977) and senior (1977-1978) years. I loved being a Stepper. I kept my uniform all these years. After trying out, I was worried I did not make it. But shortly after try-outs, early one Saturday morning, my sister Robyn (we share a bedroom) were awakened to a bunch of screaming girls in their pajamas outside our bedroom window. Robyn was not so happy about it all. I was thrilled. It was the Stepper team. I had made it. They whisked me away in my pajamas to a celebration breakfast.
It was also at East High school that I met my soul-mate, Jim Oliphant. We met only a few months before graduation and married November 3, 1978. When we met, we both said it felt like, “Oh, there you are!” It was as if we had known and loved each other before. It was so right. And our lifetime together proved it true. I will love you forever Jim.
Some of my favorite trips in my life were our family vacation to Yellowstone when I was in my teens. The trips I took with the East High School Steppers. Our many family trips to Carolina Beach. Our family trip to St. Louis was so much fun. We stopped wherever we wanted along the way. I loved when Jim and I went to Puerto Rico and our weekend get-away to Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.
Throughout my life I greatly enjoyed reading, crafting, sewing and crocheting. My grandma Powers taught me to sew. Each of my children and grandchildren have crocheted blankets, “Pokey” hats and special projects that were made with love, and I hope, are filled with as many memories for them as they were for me.
Designing and making jewelry was a real passion of mine. I had quite the set up. Over the years I slowly took over Jim's closet with all of my jewelry supplies. But he never really seemed to mind. He knew it made me happy.
But more than all that, I loved singing and making music with my husband, Jim. We preformed professionally for several years as RagTop. I so enjoyed it. We loved being together all the time. And we were good. We made so many great friends and memories along the way. We retired in 2022 due to health issues. But you can still see us entertaining together and you can still hear me sing and wearing some of my beautiful jewelry. We kept our social media in place from those times for memories sake and to keep our special time together alive. I would be honored if you would visit them to remember me at www.MyRagTop.com.
Jim and I shared these words with family and friends when I entered hospice care at home. They meant so much to me then, so I share them here with you now:
“we did it! When we first met, we just knew we would spend a lifetime together. We fell in love and our dream was to get married, have children and grandchildren and grow old together. And our journey began.
The words, 'grow old together' seem so easy to say when you are 18 years old. They sound like a line from a song or a movie. But they are so much more. November 3rd we celebrated our 47th anniversary.
It has been a long Summer for us. Renee has been very sick. We have had almost every lab test possible it seems and every imaging and scan available. We have traveled miles to see various doctors. And while we did, Renee became more ill. Mid-week last week ended with an emergency room-to-emergency room transfer to move Renee to a hospital that could treat her.
As I am writing these words it feels unimaginable that I even think them, let alone say them out loud. But our journey ends here. Renee began home hospice care yesterday. And now the end of “Us” is very near. “And grow old together.” means so much more that two 18 year old young people setting out on this adventure could have ever imagined or understood. But now we do. It is a gift to grow old together.
Goodbye my lover. Goodbye my friend. We will find each other again. ... we did it babe!”
I was proceeded in death by my mother, Sharon Batye, my father, John Batye and brother Don Batye. Maternal grandparents George and Virginia Powers and paternal grandparents Red and Vivian Batye.
Surviving are my beloved husband, Jim Oliphant. My son, Kris Oliphant, My son Aaron Oliphant and his wife, our daughter-in-love, Casey Oliphant. Daughter, Heather Oliphant and amazing son-in-law Chris West. Grandchildren Taylor Oliphant, Andrew Oliphant, Grey Melson, Red Oliphant and Graceson (Stover) Oliphant. A Brother, Jon Batye and Sister Robyn Huxford And a host of friends and loved ones.
I was cremated and will be laid to rest at a private graveside service in Evergreen Burial Park Roanoke, Virginia followed by a Celebration of Life in the Spring of 2026.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Renee Ann (Batye) Oliphant, please visit our flower store.
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