Elizabeth Marie Sisson

Elizabeth "Beth" Sisson passed away Wednesday August 10th, 2011 at Colonial Vista Care Facility in Wenatchee after a courageous and determined five year battle with cancer. Born June 7, 1961 in Ephrata, WA, her family moved to Spokane where she was raised. She graduated from Shadle Park High School in 1979, and then earned both BA and MA degrees in Speech Pathology from Eastern Washington University. She began her career as a Speech Therapist with the Moses Lake School District in 1984. She then worked several years for Speech Pathology Associates covering various school districts, hospitals, and home visits throughout the Columbia Basin and in Douglas and Chelan counties. In 2007, Beth formed her own business, Columbia Basin Speech Therapy in Moses Lake. She contracted with both the Quincy and Royal School Districts for speech services and also was the on-call speech evaluation consultant for three hospitals in Grant County. Beth affected many lives as a caring speech therapist primarily working with young children throughout the Columbia Basin. The dedication she presented in her work was extraordinary.

Beth's other true love in life was organizing medical missions to impoverished countries to help those in need. As a 26 year member of the Moses Lake Christian Missionary Alliance Church, she became involved in mission work early on. Her first trip was to Florida in 1992 to assist survivors of hurricane Andrew in rebuilding a church. During the next 19 years there were sixteen additional medical missions to include trips to Guinea Africa, Nigeria, Romania, and El Salvador, to mention a few. Beth dedicated her life's work to helping others and had a close relationship with the Lord. She was a loving sister and cousin who was always ready to help when needed. Her last three medical missions occurred while she was in treatment for ovarian cancer. Family and friends were amazed by Beth's resolve to put the effects of her illness aside and focus on making these trips happen. She was such a driving force in seeing that the trips became a reality because she knew it would affect so many lives.

Beth is survived by her sister Becky (and Dean) Chess of Salem, Oregon; brother Kent (and Kristine) Sisson of Wenatchee; three nieces and nephews, Tatiana & Ashlyn Chess, and Travis Sisson; and many caring cousins, aunts, and uncles. She was proceeded in death by her parents Joanne and Ronald Sisson. Her loving canine companions "Chirp" and "Coyah" miss her much.

The family wishes to extend sincere thanks to Dr. Melanie Bergman and the entire staff at Cancer Care Northwest in Spokane. Also to Columbia Basin Hospice in Moses Lake, Central Washington Hospice and the Colonial Vista Care Facility staff in Wenatchee for the exemplary care Beth received during the past few months.

A Celebration of Life service will occur on Wednesday August 17, 2011 2:00 pm at the Moses Lake Christian Missionary Alliance Church, 1100 Grape Drive. Flowers or donations are welcome. Any donations should be made directly to the Moses Lake CMA Church Missions Program.