Elizabeth Harp

We can clearly hear Elizabeth (Betty) Harp, the queen of lingerie, admonishing the angel wearing the wrong size bra, “Honey, you need an uplift! Even here, 9 out of 10 of you are wearing the wrong size bra?” Elizabeth Harp, owner of Harp’s lingerie, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March, 23rd, 3 days short of her 94th birthday. Mrs. Harp moved to Detroit with her two young sons, Tom and Doug. She began working at L. G. Haig where she met her future husband Elouis Harp, a transplant from Paducah, Kentucky. They were “shoe dogs” (top sales people) at L.G. Haig Detroit. They were married and their family became 5 with addition of their son Lou. In 1947, they opened their first Harp’s store on Chene Street, in Detroit with $500.00 of borrowed cash. She was a natural business woman. “Mrs. H.” and her husband, “Harp,” were master salesmen. He was funny, great with numbers and women loved him. She often said, “Harp, is the only man who can sell women bras over-the-counter, as if they were candy bars.” Her uncanny sense for style and knack for making women feel beautiful was a recipe for success. Throughout the years they owned stores in Hamtramck, Ferndale, Warren and finally, Birmingham. After Mr. Harp’s retirement in 1985 and death in 2002, Mrs. Harp continued to fit generations of mothers, daughters and granddaughters, six days a week. Anyone who left her store, left with an uplift and a story to tell. In a world short on role models, Elizabeth Harp’s light shines brightly. Her family dubbed her “The Original Women’s Libber. No one could believe her spunk or her age. Her penetrating blue eyes, natural white hair and her youthful, cosmetically untouched face, belied her true age. Women asked for her secrets, which she gave freely; “Eat very little, use Vaseline or olive oil as a face cream-- work like hell and don’t take crap from anyone.” Wife of the late Elouis Harp. Dear mother of Thomas G. Hardy (Patricia), Douglas A. Hardy (the late Geraldine and the late Patti) and Lewis W. Harp. Grandmother of Kimberly Hickson (Bill), Lisa Hamill (Charles), Douglas H. Hardy, M.D. (Kate), Lanie Cosgrove (Dave), Leslie Hardy and Liz Hardy. Great grandmother of Jeffrey, Peter and Michael Hickson, Jacqueline and Thomas Hamill, Cali, David and Erin Cosgrove, Grace and Abbey Hardy. Sister of Evelyn and the late Edward, Alfred, Helen and Violet. Also survived by dearest friend Jan Joity Karcho, a devoted sales staff and countless satisfied customers. Family will receive friends at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward (btwn 13-14 Mile) Sunday 1p.m. until memorial service 5p.m. Memorial tributes to The Basilica of St. Mary, 18100 Merriman Rd., Livonia, MI 48152 or the charity of donor’s choice.