Elizabeth Smith Black was born April 1, 1924 to John Alliaude and Clara Bartlett Smith. She died peacefully after a short illness on May 5, 2015, surrounded by her family and friends.

Elizabeth spent her formative years in the Seattle neighborhoods of Laurelhurst and Evergreen Point. She entered Helen Bush School as a sophomore, graduating in 1942 as salutatorian.

Elizabeth attended Wellesley and the University of Washington, majoring in history and enjoying the Kappa, Kappa Gamma sorority friends she had known since her youth.

Liz met Lyman Hoge Black Jr. when she was in high school. She and Lyman stayed in touch through the beginning of the war and in 1944 were married. Liz told the story of Lyman calling her to ask if she could manage a wedding in 10 days to take advantage of a sudden leave. She said yes!   Lyman and Liz lived on the East Coast while Lyman was stationed in Groton, Connecticut, in the submarine service.

After the war their three children were born in 1946, 1948 and 1952. When the 1950 polio epidemic hit the Seattle area, their two eldest children became ill at which time they decided to drop plans for more education and remain in the area with Lyman going to work at the family business, Black Manufacturing Co., and Liz staying home to handle the post-polio care of the children. Elizabeth often said that the virus changed the trajectory of their lives.

In 1952 they moved to the family house on Wing Point providing a beautiful location to raise the kids and dogs (a passion for Liz, with four great-granddogs). Bainbridge was a short trip to Seattle for volunteering with the Kappa, Kappa Gamma Sorority, the Jr. League, and the 1962 World’s Fair Speaker’s Bureau.

For many years the couple participated in Bainbridge Light Opera Productions. When Lyman played a drunkard in the production of “Brigadoon,” his mother stayed home in disapproval. Liz always supported Lyman’s devotion to the performance side of theses entertainments by working on the sets, costumes and tickets sales.

Liz was a founding member and President of the Bainbridge Island Library during its inception, a job she found extremely rewarding. It suited her perfectly to work with others to build a permanent, beautiful facility for the island she loved, truly a monument to her life-long love of reading. Always a member of a book club and an intrepid reader of fiction, history, and daily newspapers, she was well-informed and articulate about her opinions on almost any issue. We enjoyed talking with her about new books and always took her suggestions to heart as did her legion of wonderful life-long friends.

Liz also shared with Lyman a love of travel from camping trips and later to wide-ranging international trips. But the two especially loved trips around North America in their small motor home they called the “Critter.”

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Lyman. She is survived by her three daughters, Marnie Black of Steilacoom, Susan Black of Seattle and Lynn (John) Cooper of Bainbridge Island. She has two grandchildren, Morgan (Holli Suga) Cooper of Sammamish, and Jonathan (Cristina Urrutia) Cooper of Seattle; and six great-grandchildren, Kayla, Madison, London, Clara, Rylan and Mika.

At Liz’s request there will be no service. A small celebration was held recently.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to a charity of your choice. To her friends and her family, Liz and her loving heart will always be with us.