Lisa Ann Lewis

Lisa Ann Lewis, aged 56, of Seattle, Washington, passed away peacefully at her home on August 29, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and dedication.

Born on December 23, 1966, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Lisa was the beloved daughter of Steve and Donna (Haas) Lewis. She spent her early years in Federal Way, Washington, where she began her educational journey. Lisa continued her high school education in Severna Park, Maryland, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in communications from the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Pennsylvania in 1988.

Driven by a thirst for knowledge, Lisa embarked on a path of higher education, obtaining a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in 1993. Her career took her to Boston briefly, but her heart always belonged in Seattle, to which she returned in the mid-1990s when her mother was battling breast cancer.

She found her professional calling at Edmark, an educational software company in Redmond, Washington, where her talents shined brightly. However, Lisa’s transition to a little-known online bookseller forever changed her career trajectory. As one of Amazon’s first 100 employees, Lisa played a pivotal role in the company’s famed customer obsession, founding and leading its customer and market research team and later launching Amazon’s Kitchen and Housewares business.

Lisa’s life was replete with love and adventure. She embraced volunteer work and embarked on numerous travels to Asia and Europe with her closest friends. She met Charles Gust in November 2003 after she returned from a transformative journey to Tibet and Nepal, and they realized they shared a love that would define their lives. They sealed their commitment on August 27, 2004, at Seattle Tennis Club.

Lisa found her greatest joy in motherhood with the arrival of her sons, Stephen and Thomas. She dedicated herself to their well-being and education, actively participating in their UCDS school community, serving on its board, and engaging in various committees and activities.

Throughout her life, Lisa enjoyed an active lifestyle, finding happiness in gardening and sharing cherished moments skiing and golfing with her family and friends. Her passion extended to the pursuit of making the world more beautiful and elegant as she pursued studies in interior design.

In the face of a five-year battle with breast cancer, Lisa remained steadfast in her indomitable strength, selfless sacrifices, and unwavering determination. Her inner and outer beauty, grace, and love were fortified by an extensive network of friends and her family, who will forever hold her memory in their hearts.

Lisa is preceded in death by her mother, Donna. She is survived by her devoted spouse, Charles, and their cherished sons, Stephen and Thomas. Her memory is preserved by her loving father, Steve, of Seattle and formerly of Federal Way, Washington; her sister, Linda, of Buckley, Washington; her brother, Steve (Janeen) and her nephews, Andrew and William, of Hillsboro, Oregon.

Lisa touched the lives of many with her kindness, resilience, and boundless love. Her legacy will endure in the hearts and minds of those who had the privilege of knowing her. We will gather to celebrate Lisa’s life on October 28th at Paccar Pavilion at Olympic Sculpture Park at 6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Lisa’s honor to METAvivor (metavivor.org) or No Kid Hungry (nokidhungry.org).