Elizabeth Ann Plunk

Lisa was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, the daughter of Tom and Paula (Rogers) Dugan. She was a spirited, athletic child who became a state champion sprinter at Bishop Lynch high school, where she also played saxophone in the marching band. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from the University of Texas at Arlington and returned to school several years later to pursue her nursing degree at Texas Woman’s University. This was one of Lisa’s proudest accomplishments, and it allowed her to share her kindness, compassion, and sense of humor with so many patients and their families.

After working for the Baylor healthcare system for 12 years, most of that time with kidney/liver transplant patients, she moved to Texas Oncology where she worked as a chemo triage nurse. In this role, she was often the one to quell patients’ fears, encourage and support them when things weren’t going well, and sometimes deliver difficult news. Lisa did this job with great love for her patients and first-hand knowledge of what it is like to suffer from cancer. She lost her husband, Russell Plunk, to a brain tumor in 2007, after just over 20 years of marriage.

Teller of silly jokes, Lisa was a comedian at heart. Unassuming and quick to laugh at herself, she was funny, creative, artistic, and fiercely loyal—there is nothing she wouldn’t do for a friend or family member. She was easy to be around and unapologetic in her devotion to those she loved. Lisa was an excellent cook and writer, who loved music, dancing, funny videos, decorating, dogs, swimming, shoes, shoes, and more shoes.

She had a gift for being truly present to others—the ability to simply be with another, enjoy their company, and make them feel like they were the only person in the room. Lisa touched every person with whom she came in contact, as evidenced by the outpouring of love and support during these last several months.

She was so incredibly proud of her daughters, Claire and Katie, and was their biggest fan. Whether it was shopping with Katie or recording a car sing-along with Claire, her girls were her everything, but her most profound joy was being “Gram” to Katie’s three boys.

Lisa found love again with her fiancé, Joe, who proposed on her birthday in 2021. Lisa and Joe traveled and enjoyed their pool, trying new restaurants, and spending time with their families. They were in the finishing stages of remodeling Lisa’s home, with hopes of selling it soon, renovating Joe’s, and finally buying their dream home where family could gather for big holiday celebrations.

Lisa was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in late February of this year. She was determined to fight it and believed whole-heartedly in a miracle healing. After 4 rounds of chemo and several complications along the way, she lost her fight, but was surrounded by family, love, music, and prayer that gently ushered her home to heaven.

Lisa is survived by daughters, Claire Plunk and Katie Gartside; son-in-law, Tommy Gartside; three grandchildren: Hudson, Case, and Bowen Gartside; fiancé, Joe Gavos; sister, Tina Wendling; brother, Mike Dugan; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends who loved her dearly in life and who will honor her after her death by living their lives with joy and laughter in her memory.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.laurellanddallas.com for the Plunk family.