Elvis Fisher, 89, of Lampasas, died March 17, 2023 at Lily Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation. The longtime preacher was known as a prankster, and his family considered it fitting that he died on Saint Patrick’s Day, a day not only dedicated to the the man responsible for spreading Christianity into Ireland, but also symbolized by the leprechaun, the original prankster.
A resident of Lampasas for the past 40 years, Fisher was born in Stanton to Herman and Lavita (Milligan) Fisher. He grew up on a cotton farm in West Texas, working in the fields with his brothers. He graduated from Stanton High School in May of 1951.
He went on to attend Abilene Christian College and played college basketball. He graduated in 1955 with a major in marketing.
Fisher was a man who loved God, and this love would go on to define his life. Born into a family of preachers, he first took the pulpit at 17, preaching on the weekends in Abilene, San Angelo, Kerrville, San Antonio, Welch and finally Lampasas at the Broad Street Church of Christ, for a total of 50 years.
He taught fourth grade and then sixth-grade math for 27 years in San Antonio and Copperas Cove.
Fisher met Joanna Mason during their first year of teaching in San Antonio in 1970, and they became good friends. Years later, they reunited and were married on April 14, 1983 at their home in Lampasas. The service was officiated by his twin brother Alvis with their closest friends and family in attendance. They were married 39 years and raised two children.
While he enjoyed teaching, Fisher eventually returned to the pulpit full time when retirement turned out to be a little more boring than he thought.
He was dedicated to his family, an avid golfer, and a man obsessed with restoring and trading cars. He loved music, especially gospel songs, and sang in a quartet when he was young, and then later with the church.
Elvis is survived by his wife, Joanna Fisher, of Lampasas; three daughters, Stephanie Fisher and husband Travis Bagwell of Snohomish, Washington, Lyndsay Shelley of Leander, and Lori Richter and husband Skip of College Station; two brothers, twin Alvis Fisher and wife Lola of San Angelo, and Lynn Fisher and wife Jane of Weatherford; one sister, Larie Amsler and husband Sammy of Austin; 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, Buster Fisher; one sister, Neva Sue Ware; and one brother, Herman Ross Fisher.
Visitation will be from 5:30-7 p.m. March 23 at Heritage Funeral Home in Lampasas. The graveside funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. March 24 at Oak Hill Cemetery. Elvis’ longtime friend, fellow preacher and golfer George McCall will officiate the service. There also will be a visitation time after the graveside at First Street Church of Christ.
Memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or the Lampasas Animal Shelter.
