Mary Elizabeth Isom

Mary Elizabeth Isom was born on August 18th, 1940 in Los Angeles, California. Southern California was her home for much of her younger years. She enjoyed dancing, traveling, hunting, camping, fishing, the beach and bowling. Mary met the love of her life, Bryce Norman Isom, when she was still in High School. Bryce and Mary were married on May 19th, 1959 in Sheffield, Alabama, while Bryce was on leave from the army. Bryce and Mary made their home in California and eventually purchased a home in Westminster, California. Mary gave Bryce an Electra Glide Harley Davidson motorcycle for Christmas in 1974. They loved to take motorcycle trips and even traveled the Pacific Coast Highway to northern California and back.

Mary loved getting involved in different activities with her friends such as her bowling league, cake decorating and belly dancing. She loved playing her records and had an extensive collection of 45's from back when she was a teenager. She loved old time rock, rhythm and blues, Motown and country. Mary and Bryce belonged to a dance club in their early years and Mary would often reflect on what a ball they had back then! Their children, Charles and Bill, recall growing up listening to everything from the Supremes to Johnny Cash to the Rolling Stones.

Bryce and Mary were always involved in the lives of their children, making sure they stayed active in sports and activities such as scouts, little league, martial arts and swim team. Mary's beloved husband Bryce passed away on May 24th, 1976.

Mary overcame the adversity of being a single, stay at home mom and faced the new life challenges in front of her head on. She put herself through nursing school and became a registered nurse. Mary worked at St. Mary's Hospital in Long Beach before becoming a traveling nurse which led her to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She eventually made North Carolina her home and worked at Cone Hospital in Greensboro as a nurse in Medical ICU. Mary took an early retirement to become a caregiver to her mother, Alice Prader. Mary enjoyed feeding the deer and wildlife in her backyard. She adopted every stray cat that came along.

Mary knew first-hand many of life's unexpected adversities. She lost her husband when he was only 39 years old. She later lost a daughter at birth. She knew tragedy yet she had the strength to persevere. She would always call or send a message to her sons reminding them of their father's birthday and how old he would be, or on the anniversary of his death, how many years it had been since he passed away.

Mary would later believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. She faithfully watched Hope Community Church in Winston Salem, North Carolina online and would often remark, "That's the best sermon I ever heard."

Mary leaves behind two sons, Charles and Bill Isom. She also leaves behind five grandchildren, Joseph Isom, Nathan Isom, Emily Isom, Eric Isom and Anna Isom. She leaves behind two great grandchildren, David Isom and Issac Isom. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bryce Isom, her mother and father, Julian & Elisa Prader, her brother, Michael Prader and her daughter, Lisa Ann Foster.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 2, 2022 at the Dove Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one half hour prior to the service.

Mary's services will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click Here to view the service.

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