Lisa Erickson

Lisa Kay Erickson, a science teacher at Oñate High School, passed away December 13, 2016 from suspected Jakob Creutzfeldt Disease. Born May 17, 1959 in Portland Oregon, she was 58 years old.
Lisa attended Saint Mary's of the Valley in Beaverton, OR. She graduated from Hillsboro High School and from the University of Northern Colorado in psychology. She was a member of Alpha Phi sorority. She was an accomplished viola player, being chosen for the Oregon Youth Symphony her senior year of High School. Later she played in the Las Cruces New Horizons Orchestra. She enjoyed collecting early 20th century art pottery, a passion she learned from her father.
Lisa was a successful business person starting first at Ben Franklin Bank as a teller and working her way up to branch manager rapidly, where she was given responsivity for the day-to-day operation of one of the first ATM systems in the western United States. Later she was top sales person, then sales manager for Olan Mills in Dallas. Ultimately, she opened her own successful photography business.
Lisa married her true love Chris, closed her business and moved to Las Cruces in 1996. She took on raising his two children, which she did patience and calm. After the children were grown, she began teaching science at Onate High School, where she was well known for her "nuggets" program. She loved teaching school and helping students. She always had a special soft spot in her heart for students who might be having special difficulties or struggling.
Lisa was a kind and gentle soul, who couldn't bear to see pain or suffering. Her beloved dogs, who she called the "children of the floor," where always ill-behaved and overweight as she couldn't bring herself to discipline them nor could she resist feeding them scraps from the table.
Lisa loved to travel, having visited more than a dozen countries, including a summer spent touring the Baltic region. She was always happy to accompany Chris on international teaching gigs, which gave them the opportunity to make extended visits to India, Taiwan and Columbia. She was a frequent visitor to Oceanside, Oregon where she had a second home.
Lisa is predeceased by her mother Nancy Taggart; by her grandfather Jay Taggart; and by her beloved "Nanny," Joy Taggart. She is survived by her adoring husband, Chris Erickson of Las Cruces; son, Andrew Erickson of San Diego; and daughter, Michelle Erickson of Albuquerque. She is also survived by her very caring sister, Anne Erickson-Hare of Langley, WA; her father, Robert Erickson of Warren, OR; sister, Amy Salerno of Langley, WA; brother, Neal Erickson of Vancouver, WA; and uncle, Jay Taggart Jr. of San Rafael, CA.
Lisa will be much missed by her family and friends.
Services are scheduled for 10 AM Saturday, January 28, 2017 at Baca's Funeral Chapel, 300 E Boutz Rd, Las Cruces, NM 88005
Entrusted to Baca's Funeral Chapels of Las Cruces and Sunset Crematory, 527-2222 Your exclusive providers for "Veterans and Family Memorial Care." For online condolences logon to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com