Harriett Isbell

Ha Harriett (Werre) Isbell, born March 8, 1920 in San Diego, California, went home to be with her Lord on Mother?s Day, May 13, 2007 in Dewey, Arizona.   Her father built their home in Mission Beach when she was two years old, and that is where she grew up and became a swimming champion, beginning at 8. At age 10 she was the youngest girl in the U.S. to win a Junior National Championship medal. She and her parents drove across the country from California to New York to compete for the Olympic Games (to be held in Germany) in 1936. She continued her swimming career through college.    She married Albert Wesley Isbell on March 30, 1939. They lived in California, Nevada and Arizona (Ray, Tucson, Phoenix, Sedona and Dewey). In their retirement years they enjoyed their motor-home trips throughout the USA.   She was a proud Republican and loved her country. She was a loving and devoted wife for 66 years (Albert passed away in 2006) and she was the greatest mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother to her three children: Mary Jane (Paul) Schmidt (Park City, Utah); Tom Isbell (Dewey, AZ.); Bill (Annette) Isbell (Phoenix, AZ); ten grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and her sister; Aillene Elliott (San Diego, CA.) She enjoyed her associations with Eastern Star, Washington Women?s Club, and her PEO Sisterhood, who just recently honored her as a 60-year member on her 87th birthday. She had a love of life and a great sense of humor, touching so many lives in so many ways. We will miss her everyday but because of who she was we carry with us so many beautiful memories that will live with us forever. She had many favorite sayings, but the one that is the essence of our mother is "We don?t know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future."