Lissa T. Mohler

Heaven threw open the pearly gates to welcome the most magnificent angel, Lissa T. Mohler, on August 7, 2024.  Lissa died at the age of 74 after a long battle with ovarian cancer.  Lissa was the beloved daughter of Alicia Tutwiler Mohler of Mount Hope and Edgar Lackey Mohler of Beckley. Both parents preceded her in death as did her only brother, Lackey (Lac) Mohler.

During her youth, the Mohlers lived in the magical neighborhood known as Northwestern Avenue. The tons of kids of all ages played together after school and from morning till dark, outside, unsupervised and unafraid until they were beckoned home by whistles, yoo-hoos or bells from their parents. This was always one of Lissa's fondest memories, and something she bemoaned was lacking for children today. Too, it was then, with her LM baseball hat ever-present, and her awesome athletic abilities even when so little, she was known to her playmates as 'Lilly Mays'.

Lissa was a star athlete in high school at Holton Arms School in Bethesda, Maryland, participating in every sport they offered.  But she learned her love of golf from both of her parents as well as from her maternal uncle, Ed Tutwiler who won the WV Amateur 11 times.  Her real joy for golf came when she was asked to play golf with her friend, Sam Snead at the Greenbrier.  She had met Sam many times through her uncle Tut.  Sam would sometimes call and ask her to come play with him against a few men who wanted to challenge him to a "friendly" game at the Greenbrier.  She would drop everything to run up. Sam would say 'oh, this little girl and I would be happy to try to play with you gentlemen'.  Lissa loved her pocket money after those events with Sam. When Liss would swing a golf club, Sam was known to say, "now that is a golf swing".  Lissa won the WV Women's Amateur in 1971.

After boarding school, she went on to attend and graduate from the University of Denver.  It was at Denver she learned of her love of journalism, and it was there she started her newspaper career as a cub reporter for the Rocky Mountain News.  Intent on learning all aspects of the newspaper business, she went to work at the newspaper in Culpepper Virginia, selling advertising – her very least favorite aspect of the business.  "I am intentionally putting myself in a position for someone to possibly say no to me".  But Culpepper was also the site of one of her favorite achievements:  she sold a full-page ad for bull semen. In 1982, she moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, hired as publisher of the Hi Riser newspaper, a position she held until she retired to spend full time on her real estate investments.

Lissa absolutely loved her life in Fort Lauderdale, and it is those myriad friends that she has always called her family. In 2016 after many years of summers in West Virginia and winters in Fort Lauderdale, West Virginia called her heart home. The beauty, the mountains and the seasons were her true joy.  Many or all who have known her - from WV to FL and even those she met around the world - would agree that she was the most elegant, eloquent, learned, funny, fun and loving soul.

Lissa is survived by her best friend, devoted love, partner and (finally) wife of 56 years, Marcy Nolan, who has always shared her passion for West Virginia.

There will be a Celebration of Life to honor Lissa on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at the Bright Ballroom at Glade Springs Hotel beginning at 5:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to Just for Kids, Inc. in memory of Lissa. Their address is 611 North Kanawha Street, Beckley, WV 25801.

Private online condolences and other expressions of sympathy may be directed to the family via our guestbook at www.roseandquesenberry.net .

Arrangements are by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, 729 Flat Top Road, Shady Spring, WV.