Lisa Gail Rhoades

Singing in the church choir, playing the flute and creating original recipes were among her favorite activities, but most of all, she loved being "Aunt Sis" to her nephew and niece.

Lisa Gail Rhoades died unexpectedly on Thursday, July 1, 2004, in Dallas, Texas. Born in Austin on May 19, 1962, Lisa was one of those increasingly rare beings, a native Austinite. For the past three years, Lisa lived in Dallas and was employed by Deloitte, a professional services organization. She returned frequently to Austin to indulge her beloved nephew and niece and to visit her parents, sister and many friends. During most visits, she also made a point on Sunday morning of resuming her seat in the alto section of the Chancel Choir at Memorial United Methodist Church.

Lisa was a 1980 graduate of Reagan High School in Austin and earned a bachelor's degree in education at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. Initially, she taught homebound students in Gonzales and special education classes in Rockdale, Texas, returning to Austin to teach in Hyde Park Baptist School System. In 1989, she was employed by the Office of the State Auditor and later earned a master's in public health administration from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) in San Marcos. Before taking the position with Deloitte, Lisa felt called to study at Austin Presbyterian Seminary.

In January 1995, Lisa was a pilgrim on Walk to Emmaus and became active in the Greater Austin Emmaus Community, including serving as a team member for several walks. She served for a number of years as a counselor and later co-director of Kingdom Kamp, a ministry for adults with developmental disabilities sponsored by the Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church.

She is survived by parents James and Shirley Rhoades of Austin; sister Laura Smith and husband Kendall, also of Austin; her beloved nieces and nephews, Tyler Moore, Hannah, Genesis and Joshua Smith; and uncle and aunt Stan and Sandra Froehner of Seattle, Wash. She will be missed by extended family and by her many, many friends and colleagues in Austin, Dallas and Gonzales County.

A celebration of Lisa's life was held Monday, July 5, 2004, at Memorial United Methodist Church in Austin with the pastor, Larry Lacy, officiating. Funeral service was held at 4 p.m. Monday, July 5, 2004, at the Monthalia United Methodist Church, pastors Larry Lacy and Paul Smith officiating. Burial followed in the adjacent cemetery where her cherished grandparents, Elmar and Estelle Froehner, rest. Lisa was also predeceased by her loving paternal grandparents, Benly and Madelyn Rhoades. Services at First UMC in Dallas were held Wednesday, July 7.

Pallbearers were Mark Corry, Michael Belohlavy, Jonathan Adeer, John Meador, Dwight MacAllister and John Raeke.

Memorial contributions may be made to Kingdom Kamp through the Southwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church or to music programs of Memorial UMC in Austin, Monthalia UMC or First UMC in Dallas. Arrangements under the direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home of Gonzales.