Edith "Lucille" Libby (Lybbert)

Edith "Lucille" Libby (Lybbert), was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 18, 1927 to Bert and Esther (Fannin) Dahl. She was raised by her mother Esther who later married Glen Hatch. She grew up in Salmon, Idaho where she attended school through the 10th grade.

She married Ray Maynard in 1943 and had three sons, Lyle Ray, Robert Gene (died as an infant), and Glen Douglas.

When this marriage ended, she moved to Wilson Creek , WA and lived with her parents. It was there that she met and married the love of her life, Reid H. Lybbert. Their meeting was planned and carried out by her parents and Reid's parents. They were married in Ephrata, WA on October 22, 1950. Their union was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 2, 1953.

While married to Reid, she had several more children, Charles Terry, born July 13, 1952; Cheryl Esther born December 21, 1954 and passed away the next day; Dale Lybbert born July 24, 1955 he too did not survive; David Lynn born October 29, 1956 and Richard Hollis born January 1, 1961.

While married to Reid, her home became "home" to several young men whom they raised for a time on an informal basis. They eventually took in a nephew, Gregg Lybbert, who became part of the family and was raised and loved from pre-teen to a young man as just another one of her sons.

Lucille and Reid lived in several places before they eventually settled in Moses Lake, Washington where they farmed together and raised their family. Though at times their earnings were meager, they lived well, in love and confidence of better times. She endured the early years of Columbia Basin life with spring dust storms that swept piles of dust into the home on Columbia Farms. The dust would pile up to an inch-deep inside doors and upon the window sills. They lived briefly in Skyline Acres. They eventually bought a small 60-acre farm along the Westshore area of Moses Lake.

They raised hay and had pastures for cattle. She made a grand home of a little house and continued in earnest to raise her sons there. She became a beloved aunt and "Mother" to many local youth.

While living along the lake she got started baking and decorating wedding cakes. She became very respected for her elaborate cake decorations. She fully participated in the farm work and helped feed cattle hay and grain and feed calves bottled milk. She nurtured sick calves in winter months with some being brought into the house for warmth at night.

About 1972 she and Reid bought additional land adjacent to their property and built a new home on Road 3 NE. Now they were real farmers and grew what the shallow rocky soil of Mae Valley would allow. Hay and grain became their mainstay. They dabbled in raising cattle when they had money to lose. She became adept at changing wheel-lines for irrigation. She drove tractor and swathed hay for hours on end. All this farming did not diminish her continued homemaking. She continued to can fruit, cook, bake and decorate wedding cakes. She was very skilled at tatting and made doilies and lace for gifts and heirlooms.

She was a faithful lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in many church callings, including both Relief Society president and counselor, along with Young Women's leader where she grew very close to the young ladies she mentored and loved though their teenage years.

She worked outside the home at times to supplement cash flow on the farm and to support sons serving full-time missions for her church. She worked as a "checker" or cashier at a neighborhood grocery on the peninsula called "Stop-n-Shop". She also worked at Dietzen's Thriftway in Vista Village, and finally for Safeway in Moses Lake at the old location near the present day fire station.

She loved life and being part of it. One of her fondest memories was a trip with husband Reid to Vancouver Island where they spotted eagles and fished for salmon. She caught the biggest one at over 50 pounds! She would go with Reid and the boys on hunting trips and never complained as the camp cook.

She was loved and appreciated by all who knew her as Mom, aunt/auntie (Canadian version), mother-in-law, surrogate mom, grandma, wife, and friend.

After Reid was killed in a trucking accident in 1991, she traveled and lived with her sister Barbara in Bali and Bangladesh. She eventually returned to the states and while living in Las Vegas she met and married George Libby. George was a good fit for her. He needed her cooking, support, and love, and she needed his companionship, love, and security. They lived together in Las Vegas, Port Townsend, WA and finally in Mesquite, NV. When George passed away she moved back and forth between Moses Lake and Las Vegas.

She is preceded in death by Reid Lybbert and George Libby, two sons and a daughter who died as infants, her adult son Glen Douglas Lybbert, daughter in law Phyllis Lybbert and granddaughter Felicia Lybbert, as well as her sister Vera. She is survived by her sister, Barbara Williams, her four sons and their spouses; Lyle Lybbert of Diamond Lake, Terry Lybbert of Moses Lake, David and Tami Lybbert of Moses Lake, Rick and Sandi Lybbert of Moses Lake, 25 grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren.

Family will greet friends during a viewing from 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. with Funeral Services to begin at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at the Nelson Rd. Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1849 E. Nelson Rd., Moses Lake, WA. Burial and concluding services will follow in Pioneer Memorial Gardens, Moses Lake, WA.

Family and friends are invited to share photos, memories and sign the online guestbook atwww.carverfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Edith's family has asked Carver Family Funeral Home to care for arrangements.