Lisa, a beautiful, happy baby, born to Pat and Virgil Stone, made her debut on May 2nd, 1953. She was baptized June 20th 1953 at Salem Lutheran church.
The world had no idea what was in store when “Miss Lise” made her debut. She was an utter hurricane of laughter, tears and of fun. No matter what the occasion, she was the party. She’d often say, “Life’s too short to drink cheap wine.” She was passionate, loyal, embarrassingly protective, and highly opinionated! She loved literature, theatre and wouldn’t hesitate to tango no matter where, if the spirit moved her. As the line goes, “How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?”….
Lisa spent her early childhood in Morgan City, Louisiana. In the 1960’s the family moved to London, England, as a result of her father’s promotion through the Gulf Oil system. Life in “swinging” London in the 60’s was a dramatic change of pace from the little town in Louisiana and Lisa jumped in to the scene with both feet. She attended the American School in London and made lifelong friends who have remained very dear to her. From London, the family was transferred to Anchorage, Alaska and subsequently to Miami, Florida. Lisa went on to attend Scripps College in Claremont, California. At Scripps’s Lisa’s spirit flourished. She immersed herself in her favorite topic, literature. Many happy years were spent there and she graduated with a BA in British literature. There too Lisa made deep and lasting friendships which she often talked about and treasured. Upon graduation, she relocated to Houston, Texas to be with her family and start life in the personnel business. Being entrepreneurial by nature, Lisa decided to launch her own business. The Lengston Companies are a thriving entity and still in existence today.
Lisa’ gift to the world came in the form of unadulterated love. She treated all people, regardless of their station, as if they were the most important person in the room- and she believed it. She never saw a baby she didn’t want to coo with nor a puppy she didn’t want to adopt. She was most drawn to the homeless and those in need. Her road map for life was Christ’s total forgiveness of us sinners. She often quoted the hymn, “chief of sinners though I be, Jesus savor died for me”
Lisa was overwhelmed with joy when “the most wonderful man” Larry Keeler asked for her hand in marriage. The two became husband and wife in a beautiful and intimate ceremony on August 24, 2013. Although their time has been brief, he brought her immeasurable happiness. Many have noted that she was the most radiant that they’d ever seen her.
By far the greatest legacies in Lisa’s life are her two amazing daughters. Caroline Courtney (Leng) Gray and Kelly Elizabeth Leng have been her pride and joy. Caroline serves as a children’s minister and Kelly recently graduated with honors from the University of Houston. Lisa had the thrill of seeing both her daughters reach adulthood. She beamed with pride when she talked about her girls.
Lisa is predeceased by her first born, a son Steven Thomas Leng; her paternal and maternal grandparents parents, including her beloved Marguerite (“Reetsie”) Rhodes; her former father-in- law, Lou Leng and her former brother-in law, Michael Downie.
Her surviving family includes: husband Larry Keeler; daughter Caroline Gray; husband Lee and their infant daughter Elizabeth- a joy for Lisa; daughter Kelly Leng; Parents, Patricia and Virgil D. Stone; sister Janet Downie and husband William Swanstrom; brother Michael Stone and wife Vicki. Nieces: Jillian Downie Storms and husband Fowler; their infant daughter Isla; Sara Zahoryin and husband Greg. Christina Stone Chambers and husband Steve; their infant son Jonathan. Beloved nephews Andrew Downie and Jonathan Stone.
Services are to be conducted at Trinity Lutheran Church at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, January 20, 2014. 800 Houston Ave, Houston, Texas, 77007
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Living Waters, Lisa’s favorite charity.
Arrangements under the direction of Heights Funeral Home, Houston, TX.
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