Roberta Elaine Lively Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Roberta Elaine Taylor-Lively was born in Evansville, Indiana on May 20th, 1954 to Art and Roberta Taylor. As a youth, she moved around the country with her family often, living for a short time in cities including Milwaukee, Wis. Denver, Colo. and Lancaster, Calif. before settling down in Redding, Calif. as a young teenager. Her father Art became the Head Coach for the men's basketball team at Shasta College and always encouraged Roberta to follow her passions in life and to succeed in her academic endeavors. Roberta went on to graduate with honors from Shasta High School in 1972 and after completing one year of general education courses at Shasta College, moved to East Lansing, Mich. to continue her collegiate education at the University of Michigan State where she ended up meeting her future husband Harry. After one year at Michigan State, the cold weather got the better of Roberta, and she decided to move back home to California to attend the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) where she went on to join the Bruin Bells and earn her Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology. Throughout this time she and Harry remained good friends and were able to reconnect while Roberta was completing her Masters Degree at the University of Pittsburg in Special Education, and Harry began his Residency at the University of Penn. Roberta and Harry got married in 1980 on a hot august day in her hometown of Redding, Calif. and remained lifelong best friends and partners. She moved to Visalia, Calif. in 1990 with her husband Harry and their four-year-old son Trenton. Roberta taught special education at FJ White Middle School in Woodlake, Calif. for approximately 10 years before becoming a private tutor to help students with basic reading and writing skills. She devoted her life to education and helping others and never stopped being a teacher. Roberta loved to travel, she loved to wine and dine but most of all, she loved the community of Visalia with all her heart. Always greeting those she came across with a smile and a laugh, which her friends and family know was one-of-a-kind. She found joy in helping to organize and decorate local charity events like the Christmas Tree Auction and other fundraising and charitable events put on by Kaweah Delta Hospital. Her luminous energy and joyful disposition will be missed by all who knew her. After a four- year battle with valley fever and other health ailments Roberta passed peacefully in the company of her immediate family on May 20th, 2022 at 68 years old. She was preceded in death by her parents, Art and Roberta Taylor, sister Roz Taylor. She is survived by her husband Dr. Harry Lively, her son Trenton Lively and daughter-in-law Sara Lively, brother Art (Debra) Taylor and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles. The family also asks friends and family to send donations to The American Lung Society or Arthritis Foundation in leu of flowers. There will also be a Celebration of Life ceremony for Roberta at a future date to be determined. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Roberta Elaine Lively

May 20, 1954 - May 20, 2022