Elise was born on February 20, 1931 in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. The eldest of 3 siblings, when Elise was a little girl, she loved to sit quietly by herself reading a book. She was very forgiving and peace loving. Her family moved to Taiwan in 1949. In high school, she attended Taichung Grace Church where she was baptized. She served in the youth group and sang in the church choir with her lovely alto voice.
Elise graduated from Taiwan University majoring in English. In 1958, she moved to the U.S. for further studies at Seattle Pacific College and the University of Washington, receiving her masters in Librarianship. During her college years, she was pursued by her admirer George Chin. They were married in Yakima, Washington in 1958. In the years following, they were blessed with a daughter, Silvia and son, Doug.
Elise and George were quite active in their campus college student ministry. Elise loved sharing the gospel with others wherever she went. They were both involved in the planting of the Evangelical Chinese Church and the Eastside Christian Community Church. Elise served tirelessly, driving young people to church each week, teaching Sunday School, and leading Bible study. She sang many years in the church choir and in the Seattle Gospel Chorale. She also served as an ECC deacon for many years. Elise’s many Sunday school students still remember her fondly. Her love for language was evident as she patiently translated many hymns from English to Chinese.
Elise spent her career at UW’s East Asia Library until she retired in 1995. She was an excellent cook and hostess, and enjoyed spending time with her friends and family, hosting many a large group gathering, and participating with George in Peking Opera. Elise always had a sweet smile for everyone she met and an elegance and beauty that radiated the love and joy of Christ in her life.
As her health gradually declined, Elise continued to rely on the Lord, growing closer and closer to Him until she went to be with Him in eternity quite suddenly on March 6, 2019.Elise lived a faithful life of kindness, service and devotion to the Lord.
She is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, George, daughter Silvia (Chris), son Doug (Kathleen), five grandchildren (Derek, Sean, Tim, Fiona and Ian), her sister Joan (Carl) and many nephews and nieces.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18