Alice Carlson Sanford January 13, 1930 — January 30, 2026

Elizabeth King Goss, age 84, passed away peacefully on February 4, 2026 surrounded by her family. A longtime resident of Socorro, New Mexico, Libby had lived in Augusta, Georgia since early 2024. She was an adventurous explorer and world traveler, having sailed across Indonesia in a 30ft boat, ventured with two young children to pre-reform China, and walked in Buddha’s footsteps in northern India when she was well into her 60s. She had a lifelong commitment to health and exercise, having practiced yoga since her twenties, and was an enthusiastic swimmer, skier, cyclist, golfer and squash player. Libby’s life was a mountain, not a beach. She hiked tracks and trails in North America, Europe, New Zealand, Asia, South America, and Australia. She was determinedly devoted to finishing what she started, in every aspect of her life, demanding excellence of herself in all she put her hand to. She was a steadfast, reliable, and loving daughter, wife, mother and friend. She balanced family and work, setting a model of independence and capability as a working mother to all who knew her. Her warm spirit animated get-togethers and parties. Everyone who knew Libby, at some point was blessed to eat one of the meals she created with love in her heart.

Libby was born in Denver, Colorado on March 25, 1941 to Albert and Mary-Frances King, née McReynolds. She was the second of four children, and dearly loved her elder sister, Karen, and younger brothers Sears and Al. She grew up outside of Portland, Oregon, graduating from Beaverton High School in 1959. Libby traveled alone, by train at 18 to attend Wellesley College in Boston, graduating in 1963. She received a Master of Divinity from the progressive Pacific School of Religion in 1965, graduating first in her class. She met her future husband William Miller Goss in Boston on a blind date set up by her best friend Kate Blackwell, and Libby and Miller wed on August 24, 1963, in Palos Verdes, California. In 1967, they moved to Sydney Australia, and subsequent moves took them to Germany, India, and the Netherlands. Fully embracing the adventure of life, Libby learned German, and Dutch. Family lore has it that Libby conversed with the obstetricians in German while in labor with her first child. In Australia she helped facilitate adoptions. While in the Netherlands she worked as an editorial assistant for Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Groningen. In 1986 Libby and her family moved to Socorro, New Mexico where she lived for over 37 years. She worked for 16 years at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology as an administrator, including positions at the Research Center for Energetic Materials, Alumni Affairs, the Registrar’s Office, and Information Services Department. After retirement she and Sarah Perry, Pat Kolbenschlag, Barbara Popp, Mary Nutt, and Lynette Napier created community by regularly drinking coffee at the El Camino Restaurant. She was a member of the American Association of University Women, and she volunteered for the Democratic Party of New Mexico and the Friends of the El Camino Real Museum.

Libby is survived by her husband Miller Goss, son Andrew Goss, daughter Kate Goss, daughter-in-law Pax Bobrow, and her grandchildren Sage and Galen Bobrow-Goss, her sister Karen Garver and husband Bruce Garver, brother Sears King and wife Alice King, nephew and nieces Lee Garver, Valerie Garver and Alison King, and cousins by marriage Margaret Gardiner and Helen Madsen. She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved younger brother Al.

A memorial service will be held at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors of Augusta, Georgia, on March 28, 2026, with visitation starting at 1pm, and the service at 2pm.

The memorial service will be live-streamed,

https://together.oneroomstreaming.com/K7MJSG

All are welcome to attend both in person and online.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the League of Women Voters Education Fund, https://donate.lwv.org/page/84156/donate/1.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484.