MARY ELIZABETH OVERBY

MARY ELIZABETH OVERBY

After a brave 10-year battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis, Mary Elizabeth Overby, 81, passed away on April 10, 2017, surrounded by her loving children. Born in Many, LA, Mary left her small-town life as a young woman to travel and see the world. And see it she did; living in Europe, South Korea and many places in between. During her lifetime, she gave her all as mother, professional woman, trip planner, entertainer, military wife, loving grandmother, wine connoisseur, chief organizer, hiking leader, model IPF patient and the Bananagrams and Words with Friends Champion of our family!

After retirement, Mary moved to Green Valley, Arizona where she spent countless hours hiking in the majestic Madera Canyon. As her disease progressed, the altitude of Green Valley became a struggle and she relocated herself to Portland, Oregon, but it was the beautiful scenery and quiet life of Manzanita that really captured her heart. In her last months, she moved one final time, to be near her loving family in Tampa, Florida.

Mary believed in manners, hard honest work, fairness, forgiveness and doing the right thing. She believed in second chances, being organized and being on time! What she did not do was whine, make excuses or focus on what could NOT be done. If she willed it to happen, it would. Mary Sunshine, as she was often called, was adored and she will be missed dearly

She is survived by her three children, Roger Lynn Overby (wife Susan Larkin), Tamera Elizabeth Overby (partner Jacky Longwell), Sandi Overby Kwak (husband Peter), former daughters-in-law, Lisa Brock (husband Farrukh Quraishi) and Eve Overby. Her grandchildren, Amber Brinkley (husband Darren), Cody and Cheyenne Overby, George (wife Shea) and Joanna Quraishi, Bret and Lindsay Larkin, Gracie and Riley Kwak and great-grandchildren, Lily and Charlie Brinkley.

The family will hold a private celebration and will later spread her ashes along her favorite hiking trails. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio Street, Suite 304, Chicago, IL 60607 or online at https://pulmonaryfibrosis.donorpages.com/Tribute/MaryElizabethOverby/.



This obituary was originally published in the Green Valley News & Sun.