Dorothy "Liz" Elizabeth nee Deans Rouse

Liz was born on August 4, 1941, raised in Ontario, Canada and graduated from the University of Guelph, where she met and married Bruce Rouse. Bruce’s post-graduate studies took Bruce and Liz and their two daughters (Deborah Jane Rouse and Janet Marie Rouse Kisler) to Las Cruces, New Mexico and eventually to Austin, Texas. In approximately 1970, Liz went to work for the Austin Independent School District as a food service supervisor, overseeing the meals provided at various elementary, middle and high schools in the Austin area; during that time, she was also elected and served as the President of the Texas School Food Service Association (“TFSFA”). She retired from the School District in 2003.

Bruce and Liz were always music fans, attending the Kerrville Folk Festival annually beginning in 1975; Liz had only missed 1 year of the Kerrville Folk Festival since 1975, the year that she served as President of the TSFSA. Their love and support of live music eventually grew to include hosting one of the first house concerts in Texas (“Rouse House Concerts”). For over fifteen years, Liz and Bruce welcomed performing singer songwriters into their home to present a concert of original music to an audience of faithful music fans. Along the way, they also went to many other music events, including Calgary Folk Fest, Stan Rogers Folk Fest, Canmore Folk Fest and Folk Alliance International. In 2006, Folk Alliance International recognized them with a Best House Concert award.

After retiring, Bruce and Liz moved to Sun City in Georgetown, Texas. Bruce unexpectedly passed away in 2005 but Liz continued to live a vibrant full life. She continued her support of singer-songwriters by helping to host the Rouse House New Folk Camp at the Kerrville Folk Festival. She was an avid Longhorn sports fan. And she loved to travel…she went on numerous cruises, several folk music tours in Ireland, and most recently, the Rocky Mountaineer train tour. Along the way, she found love again with her boyfriend, “Pete” Peterson.

In addition to Pete, Liz is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law (Deb Rouse & Lindsey Lee and Janet & Bron Kisler) and two grandchildren, Bella Kisler and Gabriel Kisler.

Services for Liz will be held at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 5416 Parkcrest Dr., Austin Texas on Friday, February 9, 2024 at 11:00 am; short reception at funeral home to follow. Liz will be laid to rest later that day during a small private family ceremony. A future memorial will also be held at the Kerrville Folk Festival in May, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation in Liz’s name to the Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation at www.kerrvillefolkfestival.org/donate to continue to support the Festival she so dearly loved.