Elizabeth "Libby" Roos

October 10, 1956 - April 13, 2020

Elizabeth (Libby) Gardner Roos passed to her eternal rest on Monday April 13, 2020. She was born on October 10, 1956 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to George Watson Gardner and Peggy House Gardner. Libby graduated from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School in 1974, and continued her education at the University of Michigan, and Michigan State University. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition, as well as a Master’s degree in Psychology. Her collegiate studies led her to the field of Health Psychology where she would develop a ministry called “Craving Changes” and focus specifically on helping women make positive, life changing decisions for their lives. Ever desirous of furthering her understanding, she undertook the task of learning Hebrew which facilitated her incorporation of Biblical principles into her work of helping others. Her work as a health psychologist placed her in settings large and small, speaking at times to audiences of a thousand or more, as well as small groups of just a handful. Libby was particularly gifted in her ability to connect with people with a depth and compassion that opened doors of friendships and positively changed lives. Libby was a person of deep faith. That faith was a constant guiding light in her life as well as a source of comfort in difficult times. In the summer of 1977 at Fraser’s Pub in Ann Arbor, she met a young man, James H. Roos who would just a year later become her beloved husband. They spent the next 42 years together raising a precious family, constantly ministering to others, while growing ever more deeply in love with each other. Over the course of those 42 years together as a family they resided at times in Owosso, MI, Traverse City, MI, Berrien Springs, MI, Hattiesburg, MS, Mobile, AL, Indianapolis, IN, Nashville, TN, and finally back to their beloved Traverse City. Libby loved to garden, especially flowers. Her yard was a veritable “Garden of Eden” with brilliant colors and floral scents. Every spring/summer she would plant and maintain beautiful flower boxes under the windows of her home. Her flowers were a constant reminder of God’s creative genius and His love for humanity. Libby was never more focused in life than she was as a mother and wife. Family was at the heart of everything she did. It has been said that the family is meant to be a miniature representation of heaven on earth, where unconditional love was always felt and expressed. This was profoundly true and always in practice in her home. She and Jim raised three amazing children. Their first born, Marie, was tragically taken in an auto accident at age 20, while a pre-med honors student. The younger two, Catharine and Matthew both went on to medical school and today are successful physicians in their respective practices, Catharine in Colorado Springs, CO, and Matthew in Traverse City, MI. Both of them bring into their medical practices those principles of love and caring that were exemplified in their home and family growing up under the direction and care of an extraordinary mom. Libby was preceded in death by her father, George Watson Gardner, step-father Joseph Sullivan, and daughter Marie Elizabeth Roos. She is survived by her husband Jim, daughter Catharine (Laura) Buehler MD, son Matthew Roos MD, grandson Henry Von Buehler, brothers Gilbert Gardner, Claude Gardner, George (Roslyn) Gardner, sister Catharine (Thomas) Buck, mother Peggy Sullivan, as well as several nieces, one nephew, numerous cousins and two aunts. To celebrate this remarkable life a service will be planned for a later date. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Heartland Hospice for their care and attention over the final months of Libby’s life. The family is being cared for by the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.