Libby Goff

Welcome! This is an opportunity to publicly share thoughts or memories about Libby, especially for those who are unable to make it to her celebration of life in person. We, her family, are incredibly grateful to everyone sharing their love of Libby with us and helping to remember and celebrate her. We are so grateful to have been overwhelmed with generosity and are happy to report we are not in need of more food, flowers, or gifts, but we can’t have too many hugs, real or virtual. If you would like to honor her, you might consider going for a hike, watching birds, planting a tree, becoming more active in your community and causes you think are important, buying used children's books and depositing them in little free libraries in underprivileged neighborhoods, or thinking of your own way to pay tribute. Thank you so much for being part of Libby’s wonderful life. Much love!

Obituary

Elizabeth Ann “Libby” Goff died on Monday July 14, 2025, cutting short her still-active and productive life at the age of 65. She was struck by a car while using a crosswalk during her morning run.

Born Elizabeth Ann Schaefer in Phoenix, Libby lived here all her life. She attended her local public schools, Emerson Elementary and Central High School, and graduated from Arizona State University. She was a Certified Public Accountant who helped many small businesses set up and run accounting and financial systems while working at public accounting firms including the firm she founded in 1986, and later at her family’s business.

Libby is the beloved foundation of her nuclear family that includes adult daughters Chandra Goff and Kirin Goff, and Ed Goff, her husband and close partner of 44 years. She was an honorary second mom to many others. She has eight siblings: August Schaefer, Mark Schaefer, Billy Schaefer, Bea Graves, Mea Brink, Mike Schaefer, Brendan Schaefer, and Eddie Schaefer (deceased). She fostered relationships with each of them and was especially thoughtful about taking the initiative to consistently connect with her dozens of nieces and nephews. She is loved and terribly missed by hundreds of family members and friends.

Libby was a steady, thoughtful, and humble citizen. A quiet leader, she gave tirelessly to her community and to humankind and was respectful of every person. Libby helped lift up people in need in a way that made them feel seen and understood. She served on the boards and worked in the trenches at many nonprofit organizations. She was especially impactful in supporting wildland preservation, public broadcasting, and public education. Many people considered her an exemplary person and sometimes asked themselves: “What would Libby do?”

Libby loved exercising and being out in the wild, especially the Sonoran Desert, hiking and backpacking her whole life. She was happy and optimistic, and found daily joy in things like birds and sunsets. You could find her hiking in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve about twice a week for the last 40 years; she explored and knew nearly every trail.