Isabelle G. Grisham

Isabelle G. Grisham 93 of Kingston, passed away Monday, January 15, 2007 at UT Hospital. The only child of Elmer and Mattie Goodwin, born in Harriman on June 30, 1913, Mrs. Grisham graduated from Harriman High School and attended Virginia Intermont College and the University of Tennessee. She earned a Masters Degree in Languages, with a portion of her education being at the University of Mexico. Mrs. Grisham taught at Harriman High School before accepting a teaching position at East Tennessee State College in Johnson City where she taught English and Spanish. Following her marriage to Clyde Grisham in 1951, she made her home in Kingston where she taught Spanish, English and Latin at Roane County High School. She was the first principal of Cherokee Elementary School in Kingston. After ending her public school teaching career, she obtained her real estate license and was an associate broker with Pickle Realty. A life-long Baptist prior to her marriage, Mrs. Grisham joined Kingston United Methodist Church where she was a long-time teacher of the Ever Ready Adult Women's Sunday School class. In 1991, Mrs. Grisham and her husband moved to Knoxville and joined St. Mark United Methodist Church which they faithfully attended until her return to Kingston in 2005. Active in a variety of civic affairs during her life, Mrs. Grisham was the Chairperson of the Roane County Bicentennial Commission. Preceded in death by her husband and parents, Mrs. Grisham is survived by her daughter and son in law Anne and Dowe Dabbs of Kingston; by her two sons and daughters in law Alvin and Kathy Grisham of Hendersonville and Arthur and Dorothy Grisham of Chattanooga; by grandchildren Tony Grisham of Guilderland, New York, Melanie Pulik of Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey, Shane Grisham of Pueblo, Colorado, Marissa Shrum of New York, New York, Bill Dabbs and Ben Dabbs, both of Knoxville, and Lindsey Frizzell and Kristen Frizzell of Hendersonville; and by two great-granddaughters, Aria and Chloe Grisham of Guilderland, New York. The family will receive friends at Kingston United Methodist Church from 2 until 3pm on Wednesday, January 17, 2007, with the service immediately following, Reverend Sue Lynn Johnson officiating, assisted by Reverend Donald Morris. Former students of Mrs. Grisham are honorary pallbearers. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Kingston United Methodist Church; St. Mark United Methodist Church in Knoxville or the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Kyker Funeral Home in Kingston is in charge of arrangements.

Isabelle G. Grisham

January 15, 1914 - January 15, 2007