Helen Isbell

Chico~ Helen Isbell (Memaw), 89, went to be with our Lord on Friday, November 17, 2023 in Decatur.

Memorial Service will be held 1:00 p.m. Friday, November 24, 2023 at the Morris Memorial Methodist Church in Chico.

Helen was born on February 2nd, 1934, the first of eight children to Occle Lee and Lenora Grace (Jackson) Gee in Pampa, Texas.  She grew up in Kamay, Texas and graduated from Valley View High School near Iowa Park.  She worked as a waitress in her early years and eventually became a very talented seamstress, who could sew just about anything.  Besides being a devoted wife and mother, she operated a day-care out of her home for many years, where countless children in Chico came to know and love her as “Memaw.”  Helen was united in marriage to Jack E. Souther, Sr. on June 28th, 1953 in Wichita Falls until Jack’s passing on January 1st, 1989.  Helen was again united in marriage to Jim Isbell on April 4, 1998 in Iowa Park until his passing in 2020. She was a devout Christ follower and a member of Morris Memorial Methodist Church.  She humbly and tirelessly served at the church in several different capacities until she could no longer do so.  Even afterwards, she was dedicated to reading and studying the Bible.  She shared the love of Christ wherever she was.

She was preceded in death by her grandson, Calvin Lee Souther; her step-son, David Isbell; her sisters, Sylvia Meador, Joann Tucker, Sharon Skidmore, and Sandra Davis; her brothers, Leon Gee, Sr. and Jerry Gee.

Those left behind to cherish her memory are her children, Jack E. Souther, Jr. and wife Joyce, and Sharla Karch all of Chico; her sister, Pamela Cole and husband Tony; her stepchildren, Scott Isbell and wife Jeanette of Brownwood, Robert Isbell of Amarillo, Amelia Throneberry of Duncan, Oklahoma, and Wesley Isbell and wife Joann of Seminole, Texas; her grandchildren, Jason Karch, Chelsea Finn, Philip Karch, Jackie Karch, Jordan Karch, and William White; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; too many nieces and nephews to count; and many extended family members and a host of friends.