Doris Ann Isom
Doris Ann Isom, 82, of Columbia, Tenn., and formerly of Olive Branch, died on Dec. 22, 2016, at NHC Healthcare in Columbia, Tenn.
She was born on April 18, 1934, in Good Springs, Tenn., the daughter of Willis Junior Legg and Ora May Bass Legg. At the time of her birth she had two older siblings, Thomas Fagan and Gene Austin. Four years later, Louie Junior, was born the complete the family of six.
She lived in Tennessee until she was 12 years old. At the time, her mother married Glenn Bridges of Olive Branch, and she moved to Sandy Ridge where she started 7th grade at Olive Branch grade school. She graduated from Thebes High School in 1952.
While living in Tennessee, she worked hard as a young girl working on the farm doing the many chores that were required. Cotton was king in the area and she spent many hours under the hot sun picking cotton. School would terminate for two weeks during cotton picking time because it was an absolute necessity for children to get in the fields and help pick.
At age 14, she started working as a waitress in the Twin Gables Cafe and remained there until she graduated from high school. Later she worked as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone in Cairo, then went to Kevel as a key punch operator during the construction of the plant there in 1950-1951.
From 1954 to 1966, she worked in federal Civil Service as a key punch operator on four different Air Force bases: The first at Scott AFB, Illinois from 1954 to 1957; Westover AFB, Massachusetts from 1957 to 1961; Mc- Coy AFB, Florida from 1961 to 1964, and Kinchloe AFB, Michigan from 1964 to 1966.
In 1966, she left the employment rolls and became a housewife and mother for her husband and two children. During the next 40 years she worked outside of the home only as a part time House of Directive Assessments (HODA) sales lady and seven years as a receptionist with H&R Block during tax preparation period.
She is survived by her husband, Gene Isom of Columbia, Tenn.; a son, Jerry Isom of St. Charles, Mo.; a daughter, Lora Lemons of White Oak, Ga.; six grandchildren, James Nelson and Jared Isom, Zachary, Nicholas, Aleah and Jacob Lemons; a brother, Gene (Marilyn) Legg of Columbia, Tenn.; a sister, Sandra (Donald) Riley of Summertown, Tenn.; many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents and by two brothers, Thomas Fagan and Louie Legg.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, today, at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms, with Pastor Stephen Clardy and Clarence Thompson officiating. Interment will follow in the Olive Branch Cemetery.
Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
To view the full obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.
Crain Funeral Home in Tamms is in charge of arrangements.