Obituary of Elizabeth Wheat

WHEAT, Elizabeth "Liba" Landscape Architect, mother, daughter, sibling, wife, mentor Liba left us on February 13, 2017. Always meeting any obstacle head-on, she had battled Alzheimer's Disease for more than 10 years with courage and grace. Liba was born in Tucson and the family spent the first few months living in a Quonset hut in what was then Polo Village, now the health sciences campus of the University of Arizona, while her father Jim completed his degree. She got her nickname a few years later from a younger sibling who could not pronounce Elizabeth. She so loved her family and the outdoors: holidays with parents, siblings, kids, nieces and nephews; since early childhood, vacationing, hiking and fishing in the White Mountains, and marveling at the colors of spring wildflowers and fall leaves. Professionally, Liba followed three generations of Wheats into Arizona's green industry. Her great-grandfather moved to Phoenix from the midwest and started Wheat's Riverside Nursery in 1906. Great-grandmother, Lucy Wheeler Wheat carried on the business after her husband's death, handing it down to Grandfather DeWitt. Liba's father Jim joined his father's business and opened Jim Wheat's Landscape Center in the late 1960s. He was among the first landscape architects to receive professional registration in Arizona. After receiving a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the UA, Liba returned to Phoenix to work in her father's firm. After several years, and restless to try something new, Liba sought her fortune in Tucson where she started Wheat & Associates in 1982 shortly after getting married. Following much growth and change, the firm became Wheat Design Group with new ownership in 2014. Liba's rich and varied professional career, evidenced by an extensive list of significant public works have contributed lasting impacts on the community, academic programs, regulatory policy, the urban form, arid land issues and the profession. Among many projects of which she is proud, the I-10 / I-19 Traffic Interchange and UA Women's Plaza of Honor are but two examples. The firm designed the graphics on the retaining walls and piers as well as the landscape for the Interchange. Liba was one of a team of Landscape Architects that designed Women's Plaza; she drew the concept plan in the background of the banner at the Plaza. Of her many accolades, Liba was the first female Landscape Architect on the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration, and its first female Chair. She was honored as Alumna of the Year twice by the UA, School of Natural Resources (the original home of the program in Landscape Architecture). Locally, Liba served on numerous advisory committees, task forces and commissions. Liba is survived by parents, Jim and Betty (Crutchfield) Wheat; sisters, Ann Wheat, Carol (Jim) Kissler, Katie (Chuck) Pernu; brother, Kelly (Karina); husband, Eric Scharf; and sons, Henry (Stephanie), and David (Cynthia). The family will be forever grateful to Sherwood Village Assisted Living and Memory Care, and to Casa de la Luz Hospice for their unwaveringly consistent and compassionate care and support. Private services will be held at a later date. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOME, Dodge Chapel.