Elizabeth Ann Briggs, 82, of Granite City, Ill., born Nov. 20, 1928, in Mt. Vernon, Ill., passed away on Friday, June 17, 2011, at Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City, Ill.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 60 years, Harold E. "Gene" Briggs, whom she married on June 1, 1949 in Flora, Ill., and who died on April 3, 2010; parents, Earl C. and Edith E., nee Morgan, Phillips; and three brothers, Ben, Stephen and Wendell Phillips.

Mrs. Briggs retired in 1984, from the Granite City School District after 30 years of service to the community as a teacher. She had taught 23 years in Granite City, Ill., and seven years in Madison, Ill. Liz was crowned homecoming queen of her senior class before graduating from Olney High School. She later attended McKendree College where she was a cheerleader and played basketball and won the college's "Couples Ping Pong Championship" two years in a row with her sweetheart "Gene," whom she met at college.

She began her college degree for teaching and knew this was "her calling" the moment she stepped into her first classroom. Through the years she was very fortunate to personally know many wonderful students and their parents. Liz volunteered throughout the community for many years and received many awards and recognitions for her contributions to the community including "The Citizen of the Year Award" for Granite City, Ill., and President Bush's "Point of Light Award" for Madison County.

She was a faithful and dedicated member of Niedringhaus United Methodist Church in Granite City, Ill., where she was active with the Sarah Circle and Church Women United. Liz was also a member of the Elkettes and a devoted member of the Teachers Sorority. She was a volunteer at Gateway Regional Medical Center for many years in OB, EEG, Surgery Waiting, ER, Gift Shop and the Auxiliary where she has served in many different offices, including vice-president and president three times. Through the years she had found an amazing network of friends from volunteers, to auxiliary members, staff, doctors and administrators which has become a part of her family. She and her husband enjoyed their years of bowling, traveling and vacations to every state and overseas to many different countries.

Surviving are her two sons, Harold E. "Gene" Briggs Jr., of Granite City, Ill., and Timothy A. Briggs of Granite City, Ill.; one sister, Mary E. Loerch; many nieces; nephews; other extended family and friends.

Liz and Gene have certainly had a very full and satisfying life together.

Funeral services at Irwin Maryville Road Chapel, Granite City, IL, with burial at Sunset Hill Memorial Estates in Glen Carbon, Ill.

Belleville News-Democrat, The (IL) - Tuesday, June 21, 2011