Elizabeth Park Luis

To say that Elizabeth Park Luis lived a full life is perhaps an understatement. She packed a whole lot into her 92 years that ended on May 8, 2021, on Bainbridge Island, surrounded by her children.

She came by her sense of adventure honestly, born to Bill and Alma Park, who had met while skating on a frozen lake in Nome, Alaska, during the Gold Rush. Bill and Alma settled in the wilderness of Medina in 1917 and Elizabeth was born in 1929. She attended Medina and Bay Schools, Overlake (now Bellevue) High School, and graduated from Forest Ridge school in Seattle. Then began her meanderings in higher education, studying piano at the Cornish College of the Arts and attending Seattle University and the University of Washington.

Her next phase took her far from Medina. She spent a year in Europe, mostly living with relatives on an Army base in southern Germany while continuing her piano studies in Salzburg. After a brief, mysterious sojourn in Vermont, she headed the other direction, to Honolulu. She landed a job at the Bank of Hawaii, and noticed a handsome shy local fellow named Tom Luis who was engaged in trying to get repayment of the loans she was making. After a whirlwind courtship (both in their late 20s, they had no time to lose!) Tom and Elizabeth married at Sacred Heart Church in Bellevue and settled back in the old home town of Medina.

Then the children arrived: five in eight years. While looking after this brood she became the neighborhood piano teacher and all-purpose community volunteer. Elizabeth was the milkshake lady at Sacred Heart school and a steady church volunteer. She routinely grabbed a bunch of kids to entertain residents at the local nursing home, and chaired an early edition of Medina Days.

Before they owned a house of their own, Tom and Elizabeth purchased a spectacular piece of waterfront property on Bainbridge Island. For 20 years it was a campsite in the summer, and they finally completed their dream home in 1978. Elizabeth dove right into her new life on Bainbridge, becoming very active at St. Cecilias parish, playing piano for rehearsals and performances for Bainbridge Performing Arts and volunteering with Helpline on Bainbridge and the Matt Talbot Center in Seattle. Although she lost Tom in 1997, Elizabeth was able to enjoy her views of Puget Sound until just six months ago.

Elizabeth leaves behind her children, Catherine (Sam) Hardy, Maureen Stivers, Michael (Maryann) Luis, Angela (Dan) Dougherty and Teresa Luis; grandchildren Sean (Jillian), Melanie, Andrea and Leonora, and great-granddaughter Juniper Elizabeth. She also leaves behind the many friends who touched her life and, in turn, were touched by hers.

Special thanks to the caring staff at Wyatt House and CHI Franciscan Hospice and those who came to visit, pray by her side and give her a proper send-off.

Remembrances in Elizabeth's name may be made to Helpline House.

Arrangments are entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island, WA