Elizabeth “Liz” Ann McKelvey, of Sand Springs went to be with the Lord on October 18, 2021.

She was born on November 20, 1940 in Schulter, Oklahoma, to Robert Young and Gary (Cathcart) Young.

Elizabeth met the love of her life, John Norton McKelvey, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. John told a lot of funny stories about the way that they met, and Liz would laugh at them all. She had an infectious laugh that cheered up everyone around her.

The truth is that they met through mutual friends, and immediately hit it off. At the time they met, Liz worked at St. John’s Hospital as a CNA and John worked at the Admiral Twin movie theater. The two of them loved to go and see movies together. On June 29, 1962, John and Elizabeth united in marriage. After they married, she worked for Veneer Graphic Design until they had children.

On March 6th, 1968, they welcomed their first child, Larry Wayne McKelvey and on September 14th,1972, they welcomed their second child, Billy Joe McKelvey. In 1973 they settled down in Mounds, Oklahoma and built their lives together. Once their children were born, Liz wanted to be a stay home mom, which she loved more than anything. She told a lot of stories about the boys’ antics over the years. Such as when Billy was putting transmission fluid on his bike chain and it spilled on the floor. As Billy was cleaning up the fluid with a rag, he saw that it was red, and he thought it would be a good idea to wrap the rag around his wrist and run inside like he was hurt. Liz was on the phone. When she saw him, she slammed that phone down, and that’s when Billy realized that wasn’t a good idea to scare his mother. We have heard the stories about Larry running out of gasoline at least twice a week in his mom’s car. He was proficient at coasting all the way into Mounds on an empty tank of gas.

Liz was the original “Band Mom”, President of the Parent Teacher Organization, a home room mother, a cub scout leader, she sang in the church choir, and was a sponsor for Falls Creek.

The family went on many vacations including going to Grand Canyon, California, Colorado and New York. Since there were no cell phones at that time, CB radios were really popular, and everyone in the family had their own CB call signal. John was “The Wood Walker”, Liz was “Dizzy Lizzy”, Larry was “Dynamite Kid”, and Billy was “Short & Nasty.”

In 2001, Liz assured Lynnette that she would never be close to another daughter-in-law. Lynnette confidently responded, “that’s okay”. Barbara, Liz’s sister, laughed and said, “we will see about that.” Just guess how that ended. Liz would eventually tell Lynnette that she was her favorite daughter-in-law, and Lynnette would laugh and say, “only daughter-in-law.” They became best friends and had a wonderful relationship.

On March 5, 2014, Liz was in renal failure. Her youngest son, Billy McKelvey didn’t think twice about donating his kidney. After all, she had given him life. As time went on Billy would tease
his mother that if she didn’t stop mouthing him, he would repossess his kidney and evict her from their house. She would just laugh and say, “I would like to see you try.”

Liz enjoyed spending time with John and going on camping trips all over the United States with friends and family. She also enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, making lots of wonderful memories. She was incredibly loving, kind, and she cared deeply about the people around her. She was willing to be silly –how could you not, being married to John for so many years? She even let her grandkids temporarily dye her hair purple, not just once but twice.

Liz is survived by her two sons Larry Wayne McKelvey and Billy Joe McKelvey Sr. and wife Lynnette; Nine grandchildren, Jessicca Lorraine Williams-McKelvey and her husband Scott, Erin Elizabeth Bitting and her husband Taylor, Kayla Ann McKelvey, Billy Joe McKelvey Jr., Krista Denise McKelvey, Hannah Jo McKelvey, and Faith Nicole McKelvey; As well as, one brother Robert, and three sisters-in-law’s, Kay McKelvey, Harriett Smith and Carolyn McKelvey.

Liz is preceded in death by her husband, John Norton McKelvey, parents Robert and Gary Young; siblings, Barbara Baker, Ernest Young, and James Young. She was a great wife, mother, mother-n-law, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She is loved by many and will be dearly missed.

Family visitation will be held on Thursday, October 21, 2021 from 5:00PM-7:00PM at Smith Funeral Home, 1208 S Main St, Sapulpa, OK. Funeral services will also be held under the direction of Smith Funeral Home, 1208 South Main St, Sapulpa, OK on Friday, October 22, 2022 at 10:30 AM.