Eulogy for Mom – Marian Evelyn Waley Isaacson June 9, 1936 to
January 10, 2019
My mother was
blessed.
She had a husband
who loved her and she loved him too. Mom and Dad were High School
sweethearts at Lincoln High School in N. Seattle. Three months
after they married Dad, who was in the Air National Guard 143rd
Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron, was stationed in Fairbanks,
Alaska. They were separated for eight months before Mom joined him
in Alaska. That is where they met Dean & Marlene Albee; and my
brother Dean and I became their namesakes, Marlene being my middle
name. Then eight months
later they were back in Seattle where I was born at the Fort
Laughton Military Hospital in Seattle. Mom loved visiting Alaska and
she was able to do so many times because of our brother who is still
living in the Fairbanks area for most of his adult life. She loved
the feeling of the open, rugged, cold outdoors.
Our parents were
prolific: eight children. They showed us how to love in good as well
as bad times and more importantly, to love the Lord. She spent a lot
of hours in prayer for her children. She prayed us all into His
kingdom. I am so glad for her prayers and her faith. They built a
strong prayer and spiritual life in me, something that has
strengthened me when times were hard in my own life, as it has in my
siblings. We, the eight children, loved Mom dearly with our loyalty
and camaraderie. This love for her spread out to one another. It
wasn’t always sugar and spice growing up, but as we grew we all
bonded in a way that made us a strong, loving family.
It didn’t seem
like bonding at the time, but most every summer we would take a trip
together as our "tribe” visited the Northwest outdoors: the
Oregon coast and lower British Columbia I remember as particularly
beautiful. I especially remember the huge horse fly that bit me. We
were also regular attenders at Lake Retreat Family Camp, another
outdoor activity our family enjoyed.
Mom loved God and
spent a lot of time in His Word, in prayer and in teaching others
about God’s love. I thank God for such a mother, devoted to God.
Her love for God was a powerful witness not only to her children, but
also friends, neighbors, and the people at church.
She had many
lifetime friends, from high school, from their time in Alaska, from
church & other places, especially Dean & Marlene Albee,
Dwight & Marie Sharp, Rosemary Klontz, Al & Betty
Verbarendse, and Earl Fey, just to name a few.
There was a special
place in her heart for missions. This was so great: she always
invited missionaries who visited our church to spend their nights at
our home. Our door was always open to them. How exciting to hear
their stories of their great faith! They inspired not only our
family, but many others as well. She and dad invited one musician,
Mario Honoré, to stay
with us. As it turned out, he stayed for a month.
In the late 1970s
Mom and Dad formed Reaching Ministries to invite friends to visit
with missionaries in their home to explain their ministry, and tell
us of their needs, such as computers, cars, and other items. These
were things their mission didn’t supply or provide funds for. Then
the invited listeners would try to fulfill that need. Of course the
missionaries shared their inspiring stories of faith as well.
Reaching Ministries later evolved to support native pastors and
orphans in India and Myanmar, plus a couple of other ministries. As
it turned out, my mother blessed as many missionaries as blessed us.
I am so proud of her.
Mom’s hobbies: she
collected fabrics. Her intention was to sew something so she usually
bought a pattern as well, but then the item rarely was made and the
pile of fabrics grew. She also collected dolls and books. She
especially loved cookbooks.
I can’t remember a
time when Mom didn’t have a pet. I think there was always at least
one dog or cat in our home. One of her favorite dogs was a rescue
dog, Tuner. He was a Shetland sheepdog. A very nervous dog, but he
was (mostly) fun to have around.
Mom and Dad
eventually moved to a lovely house with a great view of Puget Sound.
As nice as this home was and its spectacular views, Dad asked her to
move to Moses Lake. At first mom was skeptical of this decision. She
was so happy in that home on the Sound, Yes, Dad was asking her to
move to the desert, but he promised they would live on the lake. As
it turned out she quickly fell in love with Moses Lake.
Many times in her
life, but especially in these last several years as it does for all
who grow old, sickness prevented her from being as active in church
as she liked. But now, healed again, I know she is so happy to be
with Jesus, serving Him in his Heavenly Kingdom. She has been
promoted to Glory!
Psalm 139: 13-14
“For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my
mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and
wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very
well.…”
God knew just what
kind of person He wanted me to be and He gave me the right set of
parents to make me that person. I also have been blessed - because
of Mom’s love and care for me.
