Cleta Lizas Obituary

Cleta Jean (Morrison) Lizas, 82, passed away March 8, 2026, in Aiken, South Carolina. She was lovingly cared for in her final days by family, friends, hospice, and dedicated caregivers.

Born January 27, 1944, in Billings, Montana, to Kenneth Andrew Morrison and Elaine May (Ratcliff) Morrison, Cleta grew up with her siblings Tom and Jody. As a young woman, she was Head Majorette at West High School, where she famously twirled fire at games. She loved riding horses and helping her grandfather brand cattle.

In 1963 she married Jim Decker and welcomed daughters Cheryl and Kim. Widowed at a young age, she devoted herself to raising her daughters while pursuing many creative interests. She later became a licensed electrologist and owned businesses in Virginia and Maryland.

In the mid-1980s, Cleta met Ted Lizas in Ocean City, Maryland. They married in 2005 and shared many years together traveling the world, and spending the winter months in Florida. A devoted member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church, she sang in the choir, helped organize community events, serving as the President of The Ladies Philoptochos Society of St George Chapter 1012, and worked at the annual Greek Festival.

Cleta will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend who enjoyed hosting family and friends in her home.

She is survived by her daughters, Kim Dameron (Steve) and Elizabeth O'Brien (Chris); daughter-in-law Michaela Lizas; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sister Jody Murray (Wyley); sister-in-law Claudia Morrison; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her previous husbands, Jim Decker and Reggie Vaughan; her brother Tom; her daughter Cheryl; her son Ted; and her beloved husband, Ted Lizas.

A funeral service will be held Monday, April 6, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Ocean City, Maryland. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Berlin, Maryland. Arrangements are in the care of Burbage Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Cleta's name be made to The Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Road SW, Liburn, GA 30047 (https://lbda.org/honor-memorial-gifts), or St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 8805 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842.