Lisa Marie Burlage, 53, of Fort Wayne, died peacefully at her parent's home in Columbia City, at 4:13 a.m. Wednesday, September 1, 2021, after a cancer diagnosis on her birthday three years ago.

Born August 10, 1968, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, she was a daughter of Robert Jay and Linda Irene (Yoder) Bixler.  Beginning school at Arcola, the family then moved to Columbia City where she completed elementary at Mary Raber and graduated from Columbia City Joint High School in 1986.

For 16 years, she worked for BAE Systems, Fort Wayne.

Her grandchildren became her pride and joy focusing her life around them.  She taught them through songs and rhymes to spell their names and imparted her knowledge of cars as they would compete to identify them on their travels.  She helped develop their skills in sports.

Always interested in cars, she recently switched to a Hemi Durango SUV to accommodate the grandchildren.  She was able to travel to make her bucket list trip to Florida with the grandchildren.

Surviving is her daughter, Sierria M. (Jacob) Moser, Columbia City; a step-daughter, Renee Burlage, North Manchester, her fiancé Todd Raugh of Fort Wayne; parents, Robert & Linda Bixler, Columbia City; her beloved grandchildren, Vivian Burlage, Jaci Moser, Charli Moser, Karsen Moser, Paige Smith and Shiann Owen; and a brother, Robert (Christine) Bixler, Jr., of Fort Wayne.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Charles & Bonita Bixler and maternal grandparents, Lawrence & Mary Helen Yoder.

There will be no services.  Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.