Cleta Jean Lizas

Cleta Jean Morrison Lizas passed away on March 8, 2026, in Aiken, South Carolina. She was lovingly cared for in her final days by family, friends, hospice, and dedicated care providers.

Cleta was born on January 27,1944, in Billings, Montana, to the late Kenneth Andrew Morrison and Elaine May (Ratcliff) Morrison. She spent her childhood surrounded by her close family and two siblings, Tom and Jody. As a young girl, Cleta excelled as a majorette, earning the title of Head Majorette at West High and even twirling fire at games. She loved riding horses and helping her grandfather brand cattle. In 1963, Cleta married Jim Decker, and together they welcomed daughters Cheryl and Kim. Widowed at a young age, Cleta devoted herself to raising her daughters while pursuing many creative hobbies. She volunteered at their schools, loved crafting, sewing, baking, gardening, wallpapering, and bowling. One of her proudest accomplishments was earning her electrologist license and operating her own business in Virginia.

In the mid-1980s, Cleta met Ted Lizas in Ocean City, Maryland. The two later married in May 2005. During their years together, Cleta opened her second electrologist business and could often be found running between her offices and supporting Ted at the Safari Motel he owned along the Ocean City boardwalk. Cleta converted to the Greek Orthodox Church and became an active and passionate member of the community, singing in the choir, participating in the ladies’ clubs, organizing community fashion shows, serving as the President of The Ladies Philoptochos Society of St George Chapter 1012, and helping run the Greek Festival, famously the loukoumades stand. She especially loved Greek dancing and never passed up the chance to join in. Outside of church, Cleta was a member of the Sweet Adelines women’s choir and loved traveling the world with Ted. Some of her favorite trips took them to Greece, France, Amsterdam, Hawaii, Italy, and Asia. She especially cherished the winters they spent together at their home in Cape Coral, Florida. When Ted became ill, Cleta was his devoted caregiver until his passing in 2016.

Cleta was a caring, supportive, and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She never met a stranger and had a gift for making everyone feel welcome at her table and in her home, treasuring every moment spent with family and friends.

She is survived by her daughters, Kim Dameron (Steve) and Elizabeth O’Brien (Chris); daughter-in-law, Michaela Lizas; grandchildren, Danielle Silva Aceituno (Diego), Lauren and Kelli Dameron, Danielle Hodges (Matt), Amy and CC Lizas, Nicholas and Matthew O’Brien, and Delaney, Grace, and Colton Edgar. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, nephews, sister-in-law, Claudia Morrison (Tom), and her sister, Jody Murray (Wyley). In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by; her former husbands, Jim Decker and Reggie Vaughan; brother, Tom; daughter, Cheryl; son, Ted; and beloved husband, Ted Lizas.

The funeral service for Cleta will be held on Monday, April 6th, at 10:30 AM, at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Ocean City, Maryland. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Berlin, Maryland. Local arrangements are in the care of Milton Shealy Funeral Home, Aiken Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Cleta’s name be made to The Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Road SW, Liburn, GA 30047 (https://lbda.org/honor-memorial-gifts), or St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 8805 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842.