Born in a tiny Alabama town called Children’s Home, Elizabeth “Liz” Arnold grew up in Lakewood, Florida, as the spirited middle child in a family of seven. Life wasn’t easy in those days. She and her siblings often picked cotton before school to help the family make ends meet. Hard work bonded them tightly, forming a loving, close-knit group whose shared memories still make Liz smile.



Fate stepped in the day Roy, a young airman stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, spotted her in town. Captivated, he wasted no time sweeping Liz off her feet. At just 16, she married Roy—22 at the time—and moved to Vero Beach to live with his family while he finished his service. It was there that Liz and Roy’s sister, Betty, became instant friends. Betty taught her how to drive a car… and how to smoke cigarettes—skills Liz still laughs about today.

After Roy returned home, the couple built a small house and began raising their four children. Liz stayed home in those early years by taking in laundry and ironing, then later joined Vero’s thriving citrus industry, working long days in the packing houses. She spent time at a local plant nursery as well, where she discovered a lifelong love for gardening.

Eventually, Liz found her career home at Piper Aircraft, where she proudly worked for 35 years before retiring. Retirement opened the door to the adventures she and Roy cherished most. Together they traveled in their RV camper with the Piper group, exploring campgrounds across Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. They loved vacationing in the mountain ranges of North Carolina and Tennessee, joining a bowling travel league with Roy’s cousin, Ira Jack, and his wife, Judy, and—whenever the “specks” (speckled perch) were biting—heading to the water to fish.

And when there was fish, there were cookouts. Liz was famous for her cooking, and anyone who knew her will tell you: Aunt Liz made the best meals around.

Liz and Roy shared 64 years of marriage until his passing in 2018. Today, Liz calls Renaissance Senior Living of Vero Beach home, where she continues to cherish time with the people who matter most. Visits from family and friends brighten her days, but nothing brings her more joy than time spent with her six grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren, who adore her deeply.

A life of grit, love, laughter, and family—Liz’s story is a beautiful reminder of what truly endures.