Dr. Sisson

In Loving Memory
Dr. Lonnie Sisson
Celebration of Life
Lonnie Sisson was born on July 30, 1939 to Eugene Sisson and Dorothy Anderson in Greenwood, Mississippi. At the age of three, he moved to Los Angeles with his mother where he attended elementary and junior high school. In his early teens, he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and was reared by surrogate parents, Clarence Ray and Marjorie Elliott.
Lonnie graduated from Rancho High School in Las Vegas in 1958. After high school, he attended Tennessee A&I State University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he met Sandra Mitchell of Evansville, Indiana. Lonnie earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 1964, and he and Sandra were married that same year. The couple returned to Las Vegas, and shortly thereafter, moved to Forest Grove, Oregon, where Lonnie attended graduate school at Pacific University until he earned his Doctor of Optometry degree in 1970.
Dr. Sisson believed in hard work and committed himself professionally to his career. In 1970, he relocated to Boston, Massachusetts with his family to serve as Assistant Director of the New England College of Optometry Clinic before returning to Las Vegas in 1971 to practice his profession. In 1972, he became the first African American to be licensed to practice optometry in the State of Nevada. Dr. Sisson believed in the concept of entrepreneurship, and he had a dream in his heart to transform his vision into a sustainable business. He realized that dream when he opened his own optometry practice in 1975, and he continued to practice until he retired in 2002.
Dr. Sisson held a strong sense of community, and he served his community as Chair of the Clark County Planning Commission and Director of the American Society of Planning Officials. He was elected Vice-President of the Nevada Public Health Association, served as Clinical Director of the Operation Life Community Health Center, and was appointed to the Nevada State Council on Children and Youth. He was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. In addition to his community service, Dr. Sisson also enjoyed hunting, fly fishing, reading, photography, and spending time with family and friends.
Dr. Sisson was preceded in death by his parents, his step-mother Willa Sisson, his brother David Sisson, and his surrogate parents.
Dr. Sisson entered into rest on December 26, 2017 at the age of 78, and he will truly be missed. He leaves to celebrate his life his wife of 40 years, Sandra; daughters Lori Lauth, Lyn Sisson-Talbert (David), Tori Sisson-Wolfe (Shante); son Lon E. Sisson (Dien); sister Deloris Harris; grandchildren Ja'Lon A. Sisson, Nolan A. Lauth, Lyan C. Sisson, Elias D. Talbert; in-laws Bettye Vance, Robert and Joanne Bright, Louis and Yvonne Irons; and a host of extended family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in Dr. Sisson's name to the Alzheimer's Association.
Online: http://act.alz.org/goto/Dr_Lonnie_Sisson
Mail: P. O. Box 96011, Washington, DC, 20090-6011
Phone: (800) 272-3900

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