Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Grandma Geri

On September 24th, my Grandma Geri - my mom's mom and my last living grandparent - passed away. She lived a long life, and while injury and illness contributed to her death, it seems she left this world as peacefully as was possible given the circumstances.

As a child, I didn't know her as well as I knew some of my other extended family members; I grew up in Wisconsin and she lived in Arkansas, and that distance made traveling to see her difficult. Additionally, she deeply disliked Wisconsin's ice and snow and cold temperatures, so she wasn't keen to venture north during the winter months. It makes me smile to remember her, all bundled up while my sister and I - and then eventually our children - played in the yard in much less clothing than she felt was appropriate, calling to us to come inside before we caught a cold. (And then my mom, a nurse, would remind her that we were fine and that you can't actually catch a cold from being outside in the cold.)

Despite the distance and her disdain for Wisconsin's winter weather, she made the 11-hour drive when she could and for our big life events. She was in town the weekend I got my period for the first time (coincidentally - I'm not calling this a big life event), and while I was mortified that my mom would dare divulge that secret to anyone, I remember also feeling so grateful my grandma never said anything to me about it. She watched my sister perform as Little Red Riding Hood in our high school's production of Into the Woods, celebrated my sister and I graduating from high school, and danced at my wedding (in January ⛄) and my sister's wedding (in June 🏖). 

Moving to Texas brought us a bit closer to Arkansas, and this proximity allowed us to visit her every other year for Thanksgiving and for her to visit us here once when the kids were younger. I'm grateful our move meant a little more time with her - and the opportunity to get to know her better - these last 13 years.

Rest in peace, Grandma. We love you.








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Geraldine “Geri” Isham, 92, of Greenbrier, Arkansas went to be with the Lord on September 24th, 2024 at her home in Greenbrier. She was born February 29th, 1932 in Caraway, Arkansas to the late James Ernest Lucas and Anna Pearl (Jones). Geri was preceded in death by siblings Villa Mae, Ernestine, Dona, and Monte, and survived by siblings, Glenna, Edna, and Lela. She was also preceded in death by her husband, A.Z. “Ace” Isham of Greenbrier. 

She enjoyed fishing, dancing, listening to country and gospel music, watching westerns, and eating honey buns, and she was an excellent seamstress. 

Left to cherish her memory are her loving children, Mike (Debra), Brenda (Paul), Janice, Joanna, and Ken (Eva); 10 grandchildren: 16 great-grandchildren (with one on the way); one great-great grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.   

Interment will be tomorrow, September 27th, 2024 attended by family only at Thorn Cemetery in Greenbrier. A Funeral service will be held at 10am on November 9th, 2024 at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Greenbrier. An online guestbook available at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/conway. 

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