Lisa “Mayou” (Dzingle) Derango

August 4th, 1953-Feb 16th, 2013

Once you had met her, you would never forget her. She impressed many, with an unnamable power.

Our beloved Lisa “Mayou” Derango moved on thru to the Other Side, finally ‘split this crazy scene’, as she might have put it, though even more cleverly. [She had a way with words.]

She resided on Vashon from the 70’s-90’s, with her last 15 years spent in Seattle, but Vashon was always her Place.

Lisa did not have it easy. Extreme challenges and resilience informed her whole life, propelling her to the edge and back, flirting and skirting with real crises, time and again. Enduring more pain than one life should have, still she triumphed and evolved, with indomitable spirit, strength, and love.

Born and raised in West Seattle, graduated W. Seattle High and SSCC, was called “Boots” when hawking at Pike Place Market, worked for City Light. Early on she found joy in fishing regional rivers and learned from beloved Grandpa Joe about Nature’s Ways, which she would later cultivate as her Life’s Work. She married Kelly Derango, cherished her dog, Sport, established community on and loved Vashon Island, where she felt connected, and found joy.

She felt emotions intensely, and touched many lives by sharing her stories. Compelled to listen, one would sense her depth, wit, wisdom, and sense of urgency. At her core was a reverence for the Sacred.

On Vashon, she began her career in Landscape Artistry. From design to implementation, she transformed ragged environments into surprisingly imaginative and beautiful works of art. She brought essential knowledge of earth, light, water and construction to all projects, and put shoulder-to-the-wheel often. Her focus was intense until mission accomplished: creating pathways, weaving fences, planting gardens, moving boulders. And people too.

Fiercely reverent towards trees and waters, earth and sky and their creatures, Lisa provided for animals of the wild, identifying with their vulnerability. She was also a protector of elders, creating and tending gardens and homes of Kay Bullitt and D’vorah Kost, for the past 10 years, til the day she died.

Lisa was inspirational. Whether designing interiors, waxing poetic, painting on canvas or household objects, preparing chef-worthy meals, reconfiguring recyclables, transcending obstacles, treasuring relationships, she accomplished all with originality and love.

Survived by surrogate family D’vorah Kost, Allister Brown, Kay Bullitt, Dennis Ryan, Barbara Oyler, dog Zane, her 4 pm AA folks, and many beloved friends; mother Darlene McQuig.

Memorial April 7th, contact dvorahk@q.com for info. Paid Obituary.