Elissa (Lisa) Ida Gagnon

January 9, 1937 - November 4, 2021

Elissa (Lisa) Ida Gagnon died peacefully on November 4, 2021. She joins her husband of over 60 years, Raymond W. Gagnon. An advocate for equal rights, she marched across Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1964 in Selma, supporting the civil rights movement. She had no fear. An advocate for women's rights as well. A director of youth centers on numerous military bases, she guided young adults to better themselves. As a nurse she helped heal the body and spirit. It was common to walk into to her room at her long term care facility at Las Colinas and see an aid or worker bee as she called them, sitting in her room getting counselling. She seemed to always have the right thing to say. A no nonsense, tell it like it is person, she would call out the “b.s.” every time. She was a force to be reckoned with. Growing up, there was always a stray animal or person that she was helping. She could talk to a stranger and get their whole life story in minutes. Dad would just roll his eyes. It’s like "Hold my beer", I got this moment but with her purse. He would just find a spot to sit while she was getting to know a stranger that looked in need. Deeply involved in the community, she volunteered at meadow village elementary school tutoring and reading to kids. She received two red apple awards. She was the first Red Hatters Queen in San Antonio. For years she was involved with Oasis, and other organizations, too numerous to list. Lisa was a board member of the Heritage Farm Neighborhood Association and instrumental in creating the park at the Duck Pond. She was on a first name basis with Mayors, Fire Department Chiefs and local district representatives. She left us on her terms, wanting to be with her husband. She had nothing left on the table, and was at peace. We will miss her wisdom and her humor. Her motto was to be kind and do your best. I can hear her say, get over it and get on with it! She is survived by her daughters, Kim Gagnon and Laurie Gagnon, grandson Cody Kidder, great granddaughter Charlotte Kidder, and sister, Sylvia Radford. She did not want a service. Thank you to all who loved her. You can leave your messages and condolences here.