Frances Lee (Landers) Isbell

“...As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” —Joshua 24:15

This was the favorite bible verse of Frances’ parents, and later became hers. The central themes of Frances’ life revolved around her faith in God. She even was able to title her memoir, written in her nineties, My Wonderful Life of Faith, Family and Friends. Through the highs and lows of living one hundred years, Frances’ unrelenting faith sustained her, gave her a positive attitude and a desire to help others. She felt truly blessed and no matter who you were, whenever you’d meet, that loving Christian attitude would shine through and you’d get a big smile and warm hug. There would be a twinkle in Frances’ eyes as she told you her “life story” and asked you about yours.

Frances was born on August 7, 1920 in a two-room house in Heald, Texas (located in the panhandle) to loving, Godly parents, Marcus Reep and Cordia Mae Landers. She graduated from McLean High, class of 1936, as salutatorian at the young age of fifteen! She then attended Mary Hardin-Baylor and graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in 1941, Magna Cum Laude.

Frances began her teaching career in Clyde, Texas and taught in seven more school districts: Arlington, Bryan, Iola, Abbott, Hillsboro, Freeport and Dew. Many former students kept in contact and sent her notes up into the present day.

Frances met and married Truman T. Isbell, from Iola, Texas, in 1942, and they celebrated sixty-three years of love and partnership until his death in 2005. She and Truman were blessed with two sons, Clinton Howard and Lee Stanton and one daughter, Karen.

Frances and Truman retired to Madisonville in 1979 to be near family. They didn’t quite understand the concept of “retirement” and immediately became active in many church activities, community and political organizations, and the Retired Teacher’s Association. She even helped her husband in running the Madison County Housing Authority.

Frances and Truman enjoyed visiting relatives in several states and having big “Isbell Reunions” in their home. She loved genealogy, reading, art, cooking, “Wheel of Fortune” and daily Bible readings. She also did quite a bit of babysitting of her precious “grands” and “great-grands,” whom she adored.

Frances was predeceased by her beloved husband; her parents; a sister, Glenda Bozeman and many aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws.

Frances leaves to cherish her memory her sons, Clint and Stanton (Windy) Isbell and daughter, Karen (Dennis) McWhorter. Also, nine grandchildren, Katie (Bradley), Jaclyn (Kevin), William (Denise), Matthew (Rebecca), Rachel, Anna, Ben (Mandi), April (William) and Leigh Ann (Lorenzo) and sixteen great-grandchildren, Lander, Maylin, Laney, Kathlyn, Meredith, Megan, Jonathan, Jayden, James, Lilly, Charlie, Rusty, Raelyn, Chance, Zoe and L.J.

Graveside services will be held November 16, 2020 at 2 P.M. at Concord Cemetery in Iola, Texas. Joshua Crutchfield, pastor of First Baptist Church, Madisonville, Texas, will officiate.

The family of Frances Isbell would like to give thanks to the staff of Texas Loving Care Assisted Living for their abundant love and care of “Memaw” over the past three years. Also, special thanks to Dr. Grover Hubley, his nurses and St. Joseph Hospital physicians and nurses who provided wonderful care, as well as Traditions Home Health’s loving staff.

Memorial donations may be made in honor of Frances to First Baptist Church, 300 S. Elm St., Madisonville, Texas 77864, Concord Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 114, Iola, Texas 77861 or T4C, c/o Dave Gadberry, 24506 Jocelyn Park Ct., Katy, Texas 77493. All were near to her heart.

Arrangements are under the direction of Madisonville Funeral Home, Madisonville, Texas.