Local Legend Dr. Liz Rhea Passes Away

0
268

Dr. Liz Rhea, local philanthropist, passed away Thursday evening. She was 85. Dr. Rhea’s good works touched the lives of locals across Rutherford County.

Born Ira Elizabeth Hay on Oct. 11, 1933, Rhea, the eldest of six children, was valedictorian of Eagleville High School before she earned her bachelor’s degree in science and pre-med in 1955 from the then-Middle Tennessee State College, where she literally was a cheerleader for athletics.

She graduated from the University of Tennessee School of Medicine in Memphis in 1958, as one of only two women in her class, and then specialized in radiology. After working at the Murfreesboro Medical Clinic, she returned to medical school at Baylor College of Medicine to study mammography and ultrasound. In 1978, she accepted a position at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, and remained there until her retirement in 1992.

After her retirement, she and her husband returned to Rutherford County, and she began to volunteer in her community with her husband, Creighton, who died in 2004.

Rhea was involved with numerous nonprofit and charitable organizations, including the Center for the Arts, American Heart Association, Read to Succeed, Habitat for Humanity, Alive Hospice and Noon Rotary Club.

She told Murfreesboro Magazine that her life quote is “Rotary has a four-way test and I really try to live my life that way: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”

She served on the board of the MTSU Foundation, MTSU Alumni Association, United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties, and the Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation, which named its most prestigious award after her, the Dr. Liz Rhea Philanthropist of the Year Award.

The rotary posted the following message on Facebook:

“A local legend slipped quietly into heaven during the 8:00 o’clock hour Thursday evening. Dr. Liz Rhea touched many in her 85 years of caring and helping others.

She always loved Rutherford County and was born and raised in Eagleville. Dr. Rhea was a retired radiologist and had a reputation as a community philanthropist. She loved her church, St. Rose of Lima, and had a heart that was indeed True Blue. In fact, she was an Middle Tennessee State University alumni who did her undergraduate work there. She continued to passionately support her alma mater throughout her life.”

MTSU’s Science Building, which opened in 2014, features the Liz and Creighton Rhea Atriumas a tribute to the couple’s generosity. The Blue Raider Athletic Associationnamed its Member of the Year award in her honor, given to someone “who has exemplified being ‘True Blue’ to the core.”

MTSU released the following statement:

Today we lost a truly special member of our Blue Raider family with the passing of Dr. Liz Rhea. Her passion for the University was unrivaled, as she was perhaps our biggest cheerleader and the very definition of what it means to be True Blue. Her generous spirit, in word and deed, will continue to benefit her alma mater, now and in the future.

On a personal note, my wife, Elizabeth, and I deeply mourn the passing of a truly dear friend. Selfishly, I will miss seeing Liz, dressed almost always in blue and white, on the sidelines, in the stands or with the crowd at a MTSU event. I will miss her counsel, her laughter, her intellect and her strength.

She loved MTSU, and we loved her back. It is difficult to imagine Middle Tennessee State University without Liz — her great smile, her devotion to our students, her unabashed and unceasing loyalty to her beloved Blue Raiders, and her unwavering commitment to the progress and success of her alma mater.

But we can take some comfort in knowing that she has found peace, and that she is now reunited with her beloved husband, Creighton. And I know that her memory, and her spirit, will remain an important part of our university for generations to come.