Washington - Beloved mother, wife, grandmother, teacher, and friend Maria Luisa (Marisa) Ramon Lacabe passed away on April 6, 2022 due to complications from heart failure and a stroke that she suffered in February 2020. Marisa was born on October 28,1933 in Zaragoza Spain to Blasa Lacabe and Glorian Ramon. Marisa grew up in Zaragoza attending a French language school and helping her mother in the family store. There she met and married U.S. Airforce serviceman James Kollock in February 1959. Son Peter was born while they were still living in Spain. They moved to the U.S. in 1960 and had two daughters, Monica and Marta. They lived in Milwaukee and Connecticut and eventually settled in the Seattle area.

After her divorce in 1985, Marisa pursued a Ph.D. in Spanish literature at the University of Washington. Her dissertation was on the writing style of Spanish author Jose Luis Castillo-Puche. After completing her degree, she joined the faculty at Pacific Lutheran University where she taught until her retirement in 2004. Marisa loved teaching. Among her students and colleagues, she was known as a vibrant, dedicated teacher who enlivened their lives with her bright intelligence and sincere interest.

On January 1, 1990, Marisa married James B. Gorham and together they enjoyed many years of travel, a shared love of history, literature and food, and gatherings with family and friends. In addition to husband Jim, Marisa is survived by her two daughters Monica Klein and Marta Peters (Ray), granddaughter Zoe Klein, grandson Alex Klein, and great-granddaughter Chloe Massaro. She is also survived by Jim's children Jay Gorham, Thomas (Margaret) Gorham, Barbara (Greg Siegler) Gorham and their families; nieces Estrella, Diana, and Sandra Sotos Ramon; cousins Lola, Jose Luis, Eduardo, and Alvaro Martinez Lacabe; and beloved friends Josefina Calvo, Maria Rosa Howard, and Jodi O'Brien (Sabina and Khalil). She is preceded in death by sister Estrella Ramon Lacabe in 1985, and son Peter Kollock in 2009.

The family is grateful to the caring staff at Magnolia Home Care who tended to her so thoughtfully following her stroke. A celebration of life is planned for later this summer.