Elizabeth Susan Johnston Salyers

It isn’t often that a person comes around who can help guide others along their way. However, Elizabeth Salyers was one of those rare individuals. Known to friends and acquaintances as a friendly, energetic, and decisive woman, Elizabeth’s compassionate nature would always shine through, revealing her charm, warmth and conscientious demeanor. She was warmhearted, gentle, and organized in all the things she sought to accomplish. She was a mentor, a natural teacher who was capable of seeing things clearly, leading others and bringing out the best in all of those around her. She managed to do all of this and keep a general focus on harmony and peace.

Elizabeth was born August 21, 1963 to James and Susan Johnston in Chicago, Illinois. She was proud to be their daughter and they were very proud of her. Elizabeth's grandparents were James and Agnes Johnston and William and Dorothy Birmingham.

Elizabeth had two older brothers Jim and Tom and a younger sister, Laura. Elizabeth loved her siblings and would do anything to help when necessary - she was kind generous and loving. Elizabeth was constantly involved in all sorts of activities with her family. Her simple, clear-cut approaches to most things were usually welcomed as she helped out with any number of activities. Elizabeth carried these traits into her adult life and served as one of many reasons why family and friends found her a pleasure and a delight to be around. Elizabeth was a person who genuinely understood and cared for others, making powerful connections with those she knew.

As a young girl, Elizabeth was imaginative, ingenious, clever, and a novel thinker. Regardless of whether her peers were older or younger, or came from different backgrounds, Elizabeth could easily relate to other children. Going to school was a large part of those early years. She attended St. Cornelius in Chicago, IL and Oakhurst Elementary, Seminole Middle and Seminole High in Seminole, FL.

Both in and out of school, she enjoyed spending time with her friends, and always seemed to possess a never-ending collection of acquaintances. Her friends found her easy to know and get along with because of her talent for being socially at ease, adept at conversation, and always amiable in her dealings with others. Always one who enjoyed being involved, she belonged to Brownies, Girl Scouts.

The home where a child grows up can be of great influence. Elizabeth was born in a brick house on the North side of Chicago - a friendly neighborhood with lots of friends and many days spent playing outside. From an early age, she enjoyed animals, especially her first dog Dottie, and Katie the cat. However, to Elizabeth, the most fun to be had was simply playing and spending good times with her many friends.

During her high school years, Elizabeth had a natural flair for constantly offering her support and encouragement to fellow members of the groups and activities in which she participated. She graduated from Seminole High School in 1981. She did well in school and enjoyed telling stories in a way that naturally drew people to her. Elizabeth was often found to be the person facilitating a group activity, or frequently filling the role of being the life of the party. Teachers and classmates knew her as an excellent listener. She placed a high value on learning and always understood that there was a new lesson to be grasped that was waiting for her right around the corner. Elizabeth was active in the band and played flute, clarinet and saxophone.

Elizabeth traveled with the band - the most memorable trip was to Virginia Beach.

Elizabeth’s natural abilities to encourage others extended outside of school as well. Elizabeth started working early as a fruit picker at J. S. Hill Groves right across the street from the house. I think she was 15. Her next job was as a pie slicer at Morrison's Cafeteria - it was a job she enjoyed and we laughed about often. After that she really started to shine as one of the best workers at the neighborhood Super X. There was no customer that did not love Elizabeth.

For Elizabeth these teen years were not just about academics. There were many other areas that interested her as well. Friendships played a big part during these years. She would always seek to learn what her friends enjoyed and she would go out of her way to make sure that their needs were met. She was always seen as the type of person who was the more gracious giver. In fact, she sometimes felt ill at ease when she was the one on the receiving end. Throughout her life, she had many friends. Some of her best friends during this time were Lanette, Linda, Ruthie, and Tootie.

Elizabeth enjoyed having her pets during this time, especially Jenny dog - her full time companion.

Her first car was a blue Dodge Dart - it NEVER had a full tank of gas - she lived on the edge.

Elizabeth did well in college. Elizabeth started her post high school education at SPJC. She worked hard as grades did not come easy for Elizabeth and excelled in accounting. Soon Elizabeth got into the groove a sailed through her years at USF earning a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. Her skill at being a good communicator helped Elizabeth immensely during her college days. She was comfortable with abstract information and theories and tended to thrive on the subjects that forced her to think. No matter what class it was, she was always very perceptive and embraced the mental challenges that her college experience provided.

Though important to Elizabeth, academics were not the only thing about her college years that she found exciting. She developed a number of friendships during this time. While rooming together on campus, her closest friend in college became her sister Laura, much to the surprise of Elizabeth's parents.

Making a contribution and helping out was becoming a common occurrence for Elizabeth. She was not reluctant to get involved with groups and activities that piqued her interest.

When Elizabeth became involved in a relationship, she put everything into it.

Compassionate and devoted, Elizabeth worked hard to make her family happy.

Elizabeth loved her dogs, after she lost her first dog Mandy, she adopted Nicky - then Ringo, both Cocker Spaniels. Her dogs were like her children and she was so proud of them.

Throughout her life, Elizabeth was actively involved in professional and community organizations. With a talent for focusing in on exactly what was required to be completed, she was known to her peers as being able to strengthen any group endeavor. When called upon, she was a natural leader who created harmony and good relationships within the group, often putting her own needs aside. Her involvement could easily help structure and organize any part of an organization. An added benefit of her involvement was an ability to bring valued principles along with her. Elizabeth was an active member of the Girl Scouts acting as leader for several years - it was one of her true passions. In addition Elizabeth was a certified Red Cross instructor, teaching CPR to many classes. Elizabeth was well known to others for her ability to naturally and conscientiously move into action to help others, a quality that placed her as an active contributor to many community activities. Charismatic by nature, she was always viewed by others as someone who built bridges, connected to people, and upheld her personal values.

Elizabeth’s qualities of being a caring and tolerant person translated to being a good mother to her children. She was blessed with one step daughter, Kristin. Kristin was the apple of Elizabeth's eye and brought Elizabeth great joy and pride. In addition she was the best aunt any niece or nephew could want - never failing to surprise with a fun game or an exciting event. Perhaps it was because she was so caring, but Elizabeth would often find herself filled with happiness when the children accomplished something. Elizabeth did a good job of raising her children in a nurturing environment.

She also tried to show her children new and interesting places through their travels and vacations. Elizabeth loved to cruise and traveled to Alaska in 2000. She was also a frequent visitor at Disney World and would love to go with her friends and family. She related well to children of all ages and was able to connect with them on their level.

Elizabeth experienced success in her work life over and over again. Although Elizabeth was not working at the time of her death, she loved her job at Boley Centers and thrived in the role of Senior Accountant.

She always made the effort to understand what was needed at work, and was known by her colleagues as a good team player. She was one to take the initiative and her skills at working cooperatively were highly valued. She took pride in managing her professional responsibilities and always seemed to know what was necessary to successfully complete a project. She continually sought to learn what her co-workers did well and how they were most effective, a talent that enabled her to help them develop their own potential.

Because she was organized and methodical, Elizabeth took great pleasure in her various hobbies, especially Elizabeth loved to read, create photo albums, and most of all help others whenever she could.

Elizabeth’s faith was important to he and while she did not regularly attend church, she remained a faithful Catholic.

Elizabeth kept a beautiful apartment with lots of pictures on the walls with love just emanating from every corner. Her passion for life could be felt in her home even though Elizabeth could not get out as well as she could in the past.

Elizabeth Salyers left us on May 29th, 2011. She passed away at home. She was 47. She was preceded in death by her mother and father. She is survived by two brothers, Jim and Tom and her sister Laura. She also leaves her beloved Sonny, her step daughter Kristin, two nephews, Jimmy and Thomas and her niece, Jennifer. Services were handled by Moss Feaster - Serenity Gardens.

Throughout her life, Elizabeth was a gregarious and enthusiastic woman. She was generous in sharing her personal attributes, giving and helping those she knew and loved. She would often fill the role of coach, bringing out the best in everyone. She was imaginative, original, tenderhearted and easy to get along with. Elizabeth leaves behind a legacy of lifelong friendships and cherished memories. Everyone whose lives she touched will dearly remember Elizabeth Susan Salyers with fondness.