Ishpeming – Elizabeth Lawry Hebbard, age 97 of 200 Saginaw St., Ishpeming died on Monday June 6, 2011 at the Marquette Co. Medical Care Facility where she had been a resident since Sept. of 2005.


Mrs. Hebbard was born in Ishpeming on May 19, 1914, the daughter of the late Christopher John and Ettie (Goodman) Lawry. She graduated from the Ishpeming High School in 1931 and attended the University of Michigan. She was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1934 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1935, graduating magna cum laude with honors in Latin. In 1937 she returned to the university as a teaching fellow and earned a master's degree in 1938.


Mrs. Hebbard taught 40 years in the Lansing, MI school system, serving 33 years as an assistant principal in J.W. Sexton High School. She served her community on various boards, including the Y.M.C.A., the Community Services Council, Family Service Agency, and the school committee of the Lansing Safety Council. She was the first woman appointed to the Lasing Police Commission. She was a past president of the Zonta Club of Lansing, the Lansing-East Lansing Association of Phi Beta Kappa, and the Michigan Counselors Association. She was twice chosen Woman of the Year. Mrs. Hebbard retired in 1976.


In 1980 Mrs. Hebbard married Sheldon Hebbard, a former Ishpeming resident, and lived in Redlands, CA, until his death in March of 1995. While in CA, she served as a volunteer at the Redlands public library for 15 years and was active in the First Congregational Church. Mrs. Hebbard returned to Ishpeming in Nov. of 1995, and resided here until her death.


Survivors include step-children – Brian (Sharon) Hebbard of CO, Bonnie (Ken) Newton, and Phyllis Hebbard both of CA, 7 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and a brother John Gould Lawry.


Following cremation, Mrs. Hebbard's cremains will be interred in the Goodman-Lawry plot at the Ishpeming Cemetery. There will be no services.