She was the daughter of Luther Delbert Kelley and Allie Mae (Elms) Kelley. She moved as a child with her family to one mile east of Stuart, where she attended White Chimney School through the second grade. She then attended Cabiness School and then back to White Chimney to finish the eighth grade. She married Clarence Arliss Isenhower on Oct. 13, 1936, in McAlester, and they began farming and ranching next to the White Chimney School and it was there they raised their five children. After her husband preceded her in death on Nov. 14, 1978, she then moved to McAlester in the summer of 1980 and worked for several years at Gibson Discount Center. She began doing sewing and alterations for people and then worked as a home companion, caring for the sick and elderly until retiring in 1997. She then returned to sewing and alterations full time and lived her entire life in Hughes and Pittsburg County. She was a member of North Town Church of Christ since she moved to McAlester in 1980. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Nancy Isenhower Bierig and husband, Darrel, of Oklahoma City; two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles and Sandy Isenhower, of McAlester, and Wayne and Tracie Isenhower, of Stuart; a son-in-law, Paul Hilsabeck, of Lawton. Also, a brother and sister-in-law, Howard and Francis Kelley, of Stuart; four sisters, Mary Doris Moore, of McAlester, Mildred Hoggard, Keller, Texas, Imogene Clift, of Stuart, and Pansy McClendon, Keller, Texas. And, a brother-in-law, Eldred Moore, of McAlester; five sisters-in-law, Judy Stride, Hayward, Calif., Olene Kelley, of McAlester, Ida Kelley, of Stuart, Bessie Kelley, of McAlester, and JoAnn (Kelley) Smith, of McAlester; 10 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Roger Kelley, Jim Kelley, Randy Kelley, Tracy Kelley, Bob Clift, and Terry Trivitt. Honorary pallbearers will be Experienced American Class of the North Town Church of Christ. She was also preceded in death by her parents; a son, Joe Isenhower on May 2, 2002; a daughter, Loretta Joan Hilsabeck; one sister; five brothers; one sister-in-law, and her daughter-in-law, Gracie Isenhower. She passed away at the age of 89. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at North Town Church of Christ with Kevin Kasparek officiating. Burial will be at Pryor Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Bishop Funeral Service of McAlester.
(McAlester News Capital, Sept. 19, 2008)