George David Isbell Jr

George loved the outdoors. He spent all his early years on a cattle ranch in southeast Oklahoma. He attended a one room school in which his mother was the teacher. There were no close neighbors, so he was thrilled when his little sister, Kay, was born. He always laughed about dressing up their cats while playing with his best friend. He loved spending time with cousins at his grandmother’s and grandfather’s home. Their grandmother was their most fun playmate. He attended high school in Hartshorne, Oklahoma. He was always active in FFA and as a Junior was a state Junior Master Farmer. He was not an outgoing student, hence he said he read every book in the library. He started college at Eastern State University in Wilburton getting his associate degree before going to Oklahoma State University in 1965. His Senior year he met his future wife, a freshman on campus. In 1966, he joined the Navy. He spent his tour in the Philippines. Upon returning from the military, he and Sharon were married in January of 1969. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK. George, Sharon, and Kay graduated together in 1970 from NSU. He went to work for Continental Oil in Ponca City auditing refineries. After a couple of years, he took a job at Phoenix Federal Savings and Loan. He was the head of the lending department. He said he learned many valuable lessons at Phoenix Federal including being active in one’s community, He and a business partner bought Mr. Buck’s Convenience Stores. The store on Highway 64 and Smith Ferry Road was a wonderful community store. He received Hilldale’s Patron of the Year award several times by supporting the school in numerous ways including driving activity buses free of charge and helping build floats for Homecoming. He liked being able to take middle school students back to practice if it was raining. He loved some of the band students yelling, “Hi Daddy” as they went by on the school bus. He retired from the Veterans Administration Regional Office. He had started as a file clerk and retired as a division chief. He was proud of the opportunity to help veterans. He was active in Kiwanis Club and First United Methodist Church in Muskogee. He served on many church committees for numerous years. He liked working on projects to make upgrades to the church building with other church friends. He found out late in life he could ski well. When on youth ski trips, he enjoyed helping the new skiers learn to ski. He laughed at how many times he might have helped a new skier get up. He was so proud of them when they learned. He was blessed with two sons, David, and Daniel. He liked watching David play in the band. He wished he had those same talents. He was in awe of the gymnastic abilities Daniel possessed. Since George never played a sport, this was a new adventure Daniel shared with him. He and David shared the love for elk hunting. They met friends, including his brother-in-law, Bill, in Colorado for many years. The fun stories, hiking in the mountains, and camp food made a wonderful time. After George had pancreatitis, one of his goals was to hike the mountain again. It took all day, but David was able to get his dad’s pic coming over the crest. They spent many hours reminiscing over these trips. So many wonderful Dad and son hours. Daniel and George shared the love for snow skiing. We went on several family ski trips, but he and Daniel had their dad and son alone time. That special time to bond as father and son. When Daniel’s life became so busy with school, his dad always told him, “I will be there for us to ski anywhere that is close enough, and you have the time off”. George flew to Charlotte N.C. and then they drove to West Virginia. He traveled numerous miles RVing with friends. The sites, comradery, adventures, playing dominoes were so very special. This traveling group liked hiking especially in Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado. Family ski trips with friends were always a blast. He also enjoyed the time spent with his Navy friend, Leroy, and family from cruising the San Juan Islands to hiking the Olympia Peninsula. One cannot put a price on good times, and memories with wonderful friends. In 2015 he moved to Norman where we could enjoy our grandson, William. He surely brightened his papa’s life. He wrote down many William stories so he could reminisce and share with William. No matter how far away Will’s sport events were, he always attended. Later he was happy to add two more grandchildren, Lyv and Aimes. He liked going to Lyv’s volleyball games and Aimes’ basketball and soccer games. The days he was with any of them were his most joyful days. He loved being a papa. In Norman he continued helping by picking up food for the Methodist Church Food Pantry and doing work projects at the Assistance League of Norman. He was an OSU fan, and even in Norman wore bright orange proudly. For a quiet young man, he sure became an outgoing helping person. Donations can be made to First United Methodist Church, Muskogee, or Assistance League of Norman. Interment for George will be at 10AM, Thursday, August 3, 2023 at Fort Gibson National Cemetery with military honors being presented. A memorial service for George will follow at 2PM at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Andre Contino officiating.

George David Isbell Jr

January 24, 1946 - July 22, 2023