The Shadow
Connie Oliver
Connie, beloved wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Sunday, August 17, 2025 after a long and courageous battle with Lewy Body Dementia. A celebration of life service was held Saturday, August 23 at the First Presbyterian Church in Covington Virginia, officiated by Pastor Linda Trumbo.
At 84 years young, Connie enjoyed a long, active and happy life before her illness. She was born on April 27, 1941, in Chinook, Montana, the oldest of 6 children born to William and Mildred Harbolt. She graduated from Chinook High School with top academic honors in 1959 and from the College of Saint Catherine’s in St Paul, Minnesota with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing in 1963. She began her nursing career in Great Falls, Montana where she met her husband Jim in 1964. They were married in Chinook, Montana on May 29th,1965. After leaving the Air Force, Jim and Connie moved to Lexington Virginia to start their lives together. There, Connie taught LPNs for the Rockbridge County School system while Jim worked as a chemistry instructor at VMI. In 1966, Jim and Connie made the decision to move to Covington Virginia to be closer to his parents, Mary and Ralph Oliver, and to help with the family business. In that same year she became a mother, first with her son Billy, closely followed by David and Mary Beth.
As a young mother, Connie found time to engage deeply with the community. She was active in the catholic church, American Association of University Women, the Junior Women’s club, the Jackson River Garden club which she served as president, and was named Christmas Mother in 1978. Connie taught nursing at Dabney Community College and owned a gift shop, Mulberry Alley, for ten years which she enjoyed operating with friends. Among her many hobbies, Connie loved to entertain, play the piano, dance, travel, read, needlepoint, garden, watch sports especially those where her children and grandbabies were playing, play bridge with friends and spend time with her family- she loved to laugh.
Connie was preceded in death by her mother and father and brothers-in-law Bob Oliver, John McMahon and Rick Cottingham. Left to celebrate her life is son Billy and wife Robbin, son David, and daughter Mary Beth and David Johnstone. Grandchildren Blake, Blayne, Mary Jo (husband Jared), McGuire, Cary and Mason. In addition, four great grandchildren, Isaac, Maverick, Anayiah, and Blair, two step grandchildren Allyson and Autumn (husband Thomas), and six step great grandchildren, Gavin, Harper, Clayton, Sawyer, Carson and Luke. Also sisters, Francie McMahon, Beth Cottingham,
Carol Lubick (Sonny), Maggie Moffatt (John), brother Bill Harbolt (Kathy).
With deep gratitude, the family would like to recognize Connie’s extraordinary caretakers. Leisa Kimberlin was our guardian angel for nearly 4 years and cared for both mom and dad. She helped coordinate efforts of our other angels including Amy Harrison, Ashlie Balser, Pam Douglas and Meg Hicks. These amazing women worked seamlessly together to care for mom, gifting to us quality time with her. They cared for my dad, bringing food, keeping the house, visiting with him, and giving dad the opportunity to connect with friends and activities outside of our home. In caring for dad, they cared for our entire family. There are no words that can fully express the depth of love and gratitude to our care angels. We also wish to express our heartfelt thanks to our Hospice care team, who walked beside us with compassion and expertise, ensuring that Mom was comfortable and at peace in her final days.
2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”
