At the Compass Gala, we honored the lives of Lisa Middleton and Tom Willis, two people whose compassion, service, and generosity profoundly shaped our community. Though they are no longer with us, their spirits continue to guide and inspire the mission of Compass.
“Your mom is an angel,” are the words Lisa and her family often heard out in the public. Lisa Middleton spent her life caring for others. Long before becoming a patient herself, she was a nurse whose heart was drawn to hospice care. Lisa had a rare gift for connection. People felt seen, heard, and comforted in her presence, even after only a brief meeting. Her son, Grayson, described her as a kindred spirit to nearly everyone she met, a quality that made her a natural fit for Hospice of Queen Anne’s and later Compass.
Lisa carried her patients with her long after her shifts ended. One such patient, a young mother with two small children, became a dear friend. Lisa helped her record video messages for her children so they would always know their mother’s voice and love. That experience stayed with Lisa forever, shaping who she was and how deeply she believed in the dignity and compassion hospice care provides.
Lisa lived fully and generously, making the world better every day. She was an angel to her patients, her community, and all who loved her, and she always will be.
Tom Willis, affectionately known as Tombo, was a man defined by action - work, service, family, and community. A lifelong resident of Queenstown, Tom served in the U.S. Air Force before returning home to build a life rooted in hard work and connection. He was a commercial crabber, a skilled contractor, and the owner of Tom Willis & Sons Painting, Carpentry & Remodeling.
Tom dedicated 18 years to public service as a Town Commissioner and was a pillar of the Bay Country Moose Lodge and American Legion Post 296. He also played a vital role in Compass’s early days, helping create a space where compassion, dignity, and care could thrive. More than what he built, Tom was remembered for how he made people feel; welcomed, respected, and valued.
Even into his 80s, Tom never slowed down. He showed up for people, worked with purpose, and lived fully until the very end. To many, he was more than a commissioner or contractor, he was family.
“It was great growing up here. Every kid in the world should have been as lucky as I’ve been to grow up here, live here, and I guess die here,” Tom Willis stated in a previous video.
Their Legacy
Lisa Middleton and Tom Willis leave behind legacies rooted in love, service, and community. Their impact lives on in the people they touched and the values they embodied. Though deeply missed, they will never be forgotten. Their lives continue to echo through the community they helped shape.
