Lisa Parker Burnette

Lisa Parker Burnette, of Cary, NC, died on October 30, 2025, surrounded by love at home with her kitty on her lap. She was 61. Born and raised in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, she grew up in a close-knit community where her father served as the town's first mayor. From an early age she was thoughtful, kind, and quietly devoted to helping others. This was even reflected in her old school yearbooks, which were filled with notes thanking her for help getting her friends through difficult classes.

Lisa built a life defined by generosity, humor, and deep connection. She worked at the EPA before quitting her job to devote all her energy to her growing family. She had a wide social circle and an uncanny ability to form meaningful friendships; neighbors, friends, and even online gaming communities remember how she made them feel seen and cared for.

She loved animals of every kind, especially cats, especially BIG cats, and wolves. Lisa would light up whenever she spotted a big dog, which she called "wolfers". Even the deer and lizards in her yard had a special place in her heart. Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Halloween were her big holidays, and she poured herself into making them magical, especially for her kids. She loved giving gifts far more than receiving them. Last year she fulfilled some of her lifelong wishes when she visited Alaska, saw a moose up close, and even got to pet a husky.

Lisa adored Bruce Springsteen's music. She saw him in concert long ago and again with her husband, making another in a long line of beautiful memories in their 33-year marriage.

She was a gifted multitasker and was never far from her iPad, sometimes juggling three at once. Lisa had an encyclopedic memory of actors, writers, and voice performers for her favorite movies, books, and TV shows. If she couldn't remember an actor's name, she would pull out the iPad and look it up immediately.

Above all else, Lisa was a dedicated parent, loving wife, and compassionate friend. She is survived by her husband, Ed; her sons, Michael and Christopher; cousins Christy, Randy, Craig, and Dale, and her beloved sister Paula, who drove from Iowa to spend time at her side in her final days. She had several dear friends that she considered to be part of our extended family. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Janice and Paul.

A service celebrating her life will be held at Genesis United Methodist Church on High House Road in Cary at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 15. Interment will follow at the Wake Memorial Park mausoleum at 3:45 p.m. All who knew and loved Lisa are invited to both services.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Second Chance Pet Adoptions in Raleigh, a cause near and dear to her heart.

Lisa, you are my sunshine. We will miss you terribly.

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