Elissa Loy Johnson-Linsey passed away peacefully at her home in Willis, Texas on March 9, 2024, at the age of 87. She was born to Clifton and Inez Wade on January 19, 1937, in Taylor, Texas.

Elissa graduated from McCallum High School in 1956 and later earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from Southwest Texas State University in 1975. She taught first grade at Becker Elementary in Austin from 1975 to 2001. She was known at Becker for her love of reading instruction, becoming a Reading Recovery teacher in 1998. She was also creative and artistic, taking her students on adventurous field trips and dressing them for song and dance performances in outfits that she sewed for them. She could also paint, sculpt and fire pottery and weave tapestry.

In 2001, after retiring from teaching, Elissa bought and renovated The Pearl, a historic hotel on the square in Johnson City, where she opened a tearoom, serving scones and selling antiques. Everything she did, she did with style. She loved to country western dance and turned many heads with her colorful boots, hats, clothing and southwest turquoise jewelry. Elissa loved the Texas hill country and lived in Driftwood for nearly 50 years.

Elissa is survived by her husband, Merle Ellis Linsey, and her three daughters, Mary Dorsett Ledbetter and her husband George, Margaret Elissa Dorsett, and Marisa Dorsett Chambers and her husband Kent. Her eight grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren were her pride and joy. Elissa was preceded in death by her brothers, Clifton Wade and James Hester, and her great grandson, Luke Elias Ledbetter.

A Graveside Service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Driftwood Cemetery, Driftwood, Texas.  Harrell Funeral Home of Kyle is handling arrangements.