Elisa Tyson

Elisa Hertha Louise Tyson (nee Gabel), born on October 13, 1941, passed away on May 5, 2024. She is survived by her husband J. Gordon Tyson; daughters Jessica Tyson and Cassandra Dawn Wright (nee Tyson); sons-in-law Kevin Gonzalez and Charlie Wright; grandsons Alexander Frazier and Pierce Wright; and siblings Bernadine "Ol" McMurray (nee Gabel), Hans Gabel, David Gabel, and their families. 

 She was preceded by her parents, Jean L. Gabel and Wilhelmina Gabel (nee van Beemdelust); brother Kees Gabel; sister Jeanne Jagdeo (nee Gabel); parents-in-law Pierce Tyson and Renee Tyson (nee Lyons); and sister-in-law Denise Tyson. 

 Elisa was born in Djember, Indonesia, to a Dutch father and Indo mother (mixed European and indigenous native) and was raised Catholic. After WWII, they stayed in Indonesia for several years as their family grew, and Elisa earned the nickname "Bob/Bobbie" due to her tomboyishness.  Forced to relocate to Holland due to post-war upheavals, they eventually moved with help from The Church to California in the '60s, where her father had a waiting job with Minute Maid/Coca Cola. They moved several times, including to Houston, Texas, then Orlando, Florida. When her family moved back to Houston, she stayed in Florida. 

 During their time in Orlando, Elisa and her mother joined a local international women's organization called the Cosmopolitan Club, where she first met her future mother-in-law, and then her soon-to-be husband, Gordon. They were married September 29th, 1974 at St. James Catholic Cathedral in Orlando. 

 With Gordon away in the Navy, Elisa stayed in Orlando with the girls, fostering independence, literacy, and the arts. Though not always rich in funds, she made sure to encourage knowledge, through her women's club, public libraries, art and history galleries, nature parks, music, crafting, thrifting, and finding outlets for the myriad curiosities of her girls. When she retired, she delighted in her grandchildren and traveling stateside and abroad with Gordon when possible. She obtained her U.S. citizenship in 2012.

 Her memorial service is set for Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 3:00pm at Dobbs Funeral Home, 430 North Kirkman Road, Orlando, FL, 32811.  In lieu of flower offerings, please consider a donation to your local Scouting troop and/or public library/history center.