Elizabeth “Lisa” Marie Yates

Elizabeth “Lisa” Marie Yates, 73, passed away peacefully at home on Nov. 10, 2025 in Bellingham, WA. Born to
William Lewis Hochstrasser and Verda Lee McCurdy, September 5, 1952 in Boise, ID, she grew up in Boise next
to the original Fanci Freez, just a few blocks from Boise High School where her father taught. She loved being
active in the Silver Sage Council of the Girl Scouts, through which she enjoyed life-long friendships.

She attended Brigham Young University in Provo, UT and received her Bachelor’s degree in Humanities, with
minors in French, Broadcasting, and Theater. While at BYU she directed the full-length musical South Pacific,
and especially enjoyed classes in literature, bowling, and ballet. Lisa married George Stephen Yates on March
14, 1975 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They divorced in 1994.

After marrying, she lived in Eugene, OR, where her daughter Lara was born, then moving to Lawrence, KS,
where her son, Nick, was born. In 1981, the family moved to Washington where her youngest child Lissy was
born while living on Marrowstone Island. In each of these places she managed a business they lived at—a
mortuary, an apartment complex, and a rustic resort.

In 2004 she moved back to Boise to be with her mother. Their loving relationship made this a special and
happy time. In 2019 Verda came to live with Lara’s family in Bellingham, and Lisa returned to Port Townsend
to live with Lissy’s family at The Starrett House. She adored the gift of living in this beautiful and storied home,
learning its history, sharing it with visitors, and being a daily presence in her small grandchildren’s lives.

She held many administrative and executive jobs, including at OlympusNet, in the Port Townsend Public
Works Department, and as owner of the design shop Tradewinds Interiors. Her final and favorite job before
retirement was as the Executive Director at The Bishops’ House in Boise, where she made a lasting
contribution in preserving and sustaining this treasured historic home—welcoming the community and
creating the much-loved Victorian Holiday Open Parlors.

Over the years, she enjoyed learning to fly airplanes, growing flowers, supporting historic preservation,
reading mysteries, biographies, and children’s literature, and celebrating holidays with those she loved—her
favorite was Christmas. A constant writer, she journaled and wrote letters throughout her life, worked on a
memoir, and created drafts of many children’s stories she hoped to publish one day. She taught both children
and adults to read, and volunteered with many organizations.

Lisa’s love for her family was the hallmark of her life. Her dearest hope was that despite her challenges and
imperfections, those she loved would know she had tried her best to do what was right by them. Hundreds of
books she gifted to family and others are inscribed with the year, occasion, and a message of love. She was an
expert at choosing the perfect greeting card—and often sent several because her love for the recipient
required more than one sentiment.

In 2023, Lisa was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. Ever determined to learn, adapt, and succeed, she
began researching how to live with and walk through to the end of a terminal dementia diagnosis with dignity
and courage. The shelves of her final years are filled with books on these subjects, bearing her signature
highlighting and notes in the margins. She exemplified lifelong learning.

She was raised in and lived most of her life as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and
recently returned to this faith after a long spiritual journey. In the end, she reaffirmed frequently that the things               she had most loved and valued throughout her life were still the most important to her: her children
and grandchildren, and her faith.

She is survived by her children Lara Marie Niedermeyer and her husband Steven of Bellingham, Nickolas
George Stephen Yates of Port Townsend, and Elisabeth Cima Andrews and her husband Christian of Waldron
Island; her grandchildren Elisabeth Marie Niedermeyer and Nathaniel James Niedermeyer (The Talls), Mathilda
Andrews and Ronan Andrews (The Smalls); brothers Tedd, Todd, and Daniel; sisters Anne and Krista, and many
dear relatives and friends—including her beloved aunt Sharon Keone.

In her memory, please consider a donation to any of these organizations: The Friends of The Bishops’ House,
The Port Townsend Aero Museum, Friends of The Port Townsend Library, the Boise Public Library Foundation,
The Jefferson County Historical Society, The Whatcom Hospice Foundation, or any organization supporting a
cure for and the families who live with, Lewy Body Dementia.

Bon Voyage, Maman.