Elizabeth Rogers Rich, known fondly as “Libbett” to friends and family, passed away peacefully at the U of I hospital at 1:30 am on Friday, October 25th, at the age of 72. A celebration of her life will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, October 28, 2024, at the Cranston Family Funeral Home in Fairfield, IA. Please feel free to bring cut flowers for the ceremony. Memorial contributions in Libbett’s honor may be direct to Fairfield Cares (www.fairfieldcares.net). Friends may leave online condolences or join the webcast at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
A devoted Mother and Grandmother, Libbett was a beloved member of the Fairfield community for over 40 years. Born March 3rd, 1952, in Clarksburg, West Virginia, to Pliny Ferrin Rogers and Elizabeth Windon Rogers, Libbett graduated from Washington Irving High School, class of 1970, where she was on the National Honor Society, Head Cheerleader, Miss Washington Irving, and voted as one of the 25 seniors Most Likely to Succeed as well as many other honors. She was an accomplished swimmer, winning 3rd for breaststroke in the state of West Virginia competing for the local swim team. Libbett excelled at dance from a young age, earning scholarships and coveted solo spots in performances of the “Bonnettes”, a local Clarksburg dance group. Libbett went on to formally study Dance and Musical Theatre at West Virginia University and later Dance and Theatre at University of North Carolina School of the Arts before moving to Fairfield, Iowa, to become a teacher of Transcendental Meditation and attend MIU (Maharishi International University) where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, class of 1976.
In 1978 she married Gary Steven Rich in Cassanovia, NY. They had two children together and were married for 19 years before divorcing in 1997. Libbett worked as a teacher of dance and physical education at MSAE, was a professional voice-over artist and skilled ayurvedic massage technician. She worked for many years at Crest Jewel, always greeting customers with a friendly smile and was the owner and designer of her own line of jewelry, Riches. In her later years Libbett wrote poetry and created beautiful photographs. She was well known for her contribution to the Fairfield dance community, teaching tap dance, participating in many local performances and facilitating Dance The Wave, an ecstatic dance event on Sunday mornings for 10 years. Always the quintessential artist, Libbett was an icon around town, dressed in her special Libbett style and ready to connect with a friendly wave. She was known as a caring ear to many of her closest friends and she will be deeply missed.
Libbett is preceded in death by parents Pliny Ferrin Rogers and Elizabeth Anne Rogers, stepmother Jane Linn Maxwell and eldest sister, Linda Ferrin Rogers.
She is survived by elder sister, Deborah Rogers, her children Lucia and Shane Rich and her grandchildren, Aya and Garion Khosrowpour and step-sister Mary Linn Maxwell.
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