BEAVER DAM, Ky. — Mary Elizabeth Harbaugh Lovell was born on Jan. 21, 1962, to Jack and Judy Harbaugh of McHenry, Kentucky – and there has never and will never be another soul born as beautiful as hers. She was a daughter, a wife, an aunt, and my very best friend.
Mary Beth was your friend for life the moment she met you and decided she liked you – flaws and all. She wasn’t just your friend – she became a friend to your ENTIRE family. She chose not to have her own children, but children of her closest friends became her children. Grandchildren of her closest friends became her grandchildren. She was someone you could count on to be there for every accomplishment, for every celebration, for every sickness, and for every need.
Mary Beth believed in causes and gave so much of herself to them. She loved animals. She contributed to charities that help support and keep animals safe. There were many times friends received a call about how she found an animal in need of a home. She never let one suffer. If a home couldn’t be found she took them in herself. In fact, she fell in love with Sissy – her adopted terrier that was trained in the prison dog program. Sissy would do tricks for treats, cuddle right up next to Mary Beth, hop into seasonal costumes for pictures, and loved Mary Beth as much as Mary Beth loved her.
Another cause near and dear to Mary Beth was wellness. She attended and taught several classes at Ohio County Wellness Center and loved yoga. She would even drag several of her close friends (even against their will) to these classes! She was so dedicated and determined to being active – it’s part of what helped keep her so strong for so long.
Mary Beth loved volunteering for Ohio County Healthcare and Ohio County Hospice. Some of her best friends were made when she worked as an ER Nurse at Ohio County Hospital. She was always there when they needed her. She sat with hospice patients and baked goodies for them — even after she became ill. She was a guardian angel to so many in their times of need.
“I’ll be there for you,” was her theme! Mary Beth was there for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, retirements, children’s birthdays, and many times just because. She helped organize closets, plan exercise routines, plan parties, plan plan plan… Never has there been such a planner as Mary Beth Lovell!
And she loved. She loved with all her heart. She loved with all her soul. She loved with all her being. She loved – and she was loved.
It’s so hard to say goodbye to someone that made you a better person. It’s so hard to say goodbye to someone who made you love the little things and big things alike. It’s so hard to say goodbye to someone who was a part of everything good in your life. It’s so hard to say goodbye to your very best friend.
Mary Elizabeth Harbaugh Lovell passed peacefully from this life on May 10, 2024.
She was preceded in death by her father, Jack Harbaugh, and great-nephew, Evan Cleary.
In addition to all her numerous friends, she leaves to cherish her memory her devoted and loving husband of 36 years, Brett Lovell; her best Jack Russell Terrier, Sissy; her mother, Judy Harbaugh; her sister, Sara Fry; her brother, Joe (Ellie) Harbaugh; nephews, Jackson (Mary) Fry, Ryder Harbaugh, and Alex (Jamie) Lovell; and nieces, Jennifer Blackmon and Madison Lovell. She also leaves great-nieces and -nephews Kai Lovell, Christian Porter, Julian Cleary, Mattison Graves, and Helena Cleary as well as so many “adopted” children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren to carry on her legacy.
We all know without question that Mary Beth will no longer feel pain. She will always be beautiful. She will always be young. She will always be loved. Goodbye, dear friend. May we meet again.
Services will be held at Bevil Bros Funeral Home in Beaver Dam, Kentucky. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 14, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Wednesday, May 15, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted by Terry Terrance and Joey Minor at 1 p.m.
Mary Beth had ask that expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to Hospice of Ohio County, FOTS, or Ohio County Animal Shelter. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be made at bevilbrosfuneralhomes.com.