Eulogy for Mom

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 143^rd 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.