Elizabeth Meeks was born in Lincoln Nebraska.  She is the youngest daughter of N.V. Meeks Jr and Ruth Meeks.  Friends and family affectionately call Elizabeth by the nickname Biff.  It is a name Elizabeth had tried to escape from many times over the years but she has discovered than all who know her stubbornly resist the change so she has reluctantly accepted the name.
     Ruth was a kindergarten teacher and N.V. was an instructor pilot for B-47's at the Lincoln Air Force base.  Elizabeth can't remember her father, he was killed when his engine caught on fire during takeoff, he saved the lives of his crew and those below the flight path before bailing out himself.  His parachute didn't open and he was still in the ejector seat when they found him. He died a national hero, recognized by John F Kennedy, Lyndon B Johnson and even Paul Harvey. Her father was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross posthumously for his heroism. Ruth continued to teach until she retired and was one of Lincoln's most beloved teachers in the public school system.
     Elizabeth has three brothers, Stephen Kent Cowel, John Nicholas Cowel and Matt Douglas.  She also has one sister Terry Leigh Meeks.  John was the oldest of the siblings, he was an avid outdoors-man and an incredible artist.  He passed away March 18 2016.  Stephen Kent, known to all his family and friends as simply Kent, is the clown of the family.  His antics always brought laughter into the house.  He is a Vietnam veteran who served his country and Elizabeth couldn't be more proud of him.  Matt was a surprise brother who was discovered through Ancestry.com.  He looks a great deal like Elizabeth's father and is a welcome addition to the family. Terry has been Elizabeth's main influence throughout her life.  Terry is incredible at everything she has ever done.  She is an artist, a singer, a horse enthusiast and most of all, a loving sister. 
     Elizabeth has one child, a beautiful daughter named Caitlyn,  She is a strong willed independent young woman with red hair and a mischievous smile.  Caitlyn studied at GIA achieving certification in gemology and also graduated from the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture as a Veterinary Technician.
     Elizabeth graduated on the Dean's list from the University of Nebraska Lincoln with a teaching degree where she had a dual major of English and Language Arts.  She has lived in Phoenix Arizona and Lincoln Nebraska.  She is happily married to Mark Van Haverbeke who was a childhood friend during their school years at Millard Lefler Junior High. His friends and family call him Bus.  After completing school Mark worked in construction building homes in Colorado, he surveyed land in Nevada that was so remote he had to be dropped there by helicopter and now that he is retired he likes to spend time in the Colorado mountains hunting for gemstones.
     Elizabeth has worked in the financial industry for the past twenty-four years, prior to that she was a photographer, teacher and pet store manager.