Isebelle (Stewart) Patterson

Isebelle Patterson, age 87, of Arlington, TX, passed away Thursday, March 24, 2022, after a brave fight
with shingles and congestive heart failure. She was a long-time resident of Alvarado, TX.
Isebelle was born October 11, 1934, in Jal, NM, the youngest of her mother’s four children and her
father’s thirteen children. After her father, Nathan Lorenzo Stewart, passed in 1936, she moved with
her mother, Annie Laura (Lee) Stewart, and three full siblings to Smithfield, TX, now North Richland Hills,
TX, to be near her mother’s family. Her mother supported the family by taking in laundry and ironing
and teaching her children how to share God’s love with others. She was beloved in the community and
a role model for her children. Isebelle left school in Smithfield after the eighth grade and began her
working career. She rode the city buses to her jobs. One position was as a wallet-maker for Tandy
Leather. With her earnings, she supported her mother by having an indoor bathroom and an extra
bedroom built onto her two-room house in Smithfield. About the age of 30, Isebelle bought her first car
and learned to drive.
Isebelle attended church at Gospel Temple in Fort Worth and had many friends there, including the
Morton and Alma Lois Patterson family. Morton and the children, Annette and Michael, lost Alma Lois
in a tragic vehicle accident in 1965. About 15 months later, Morton began courting Isebelle and they
married on July 25, 1966. The family lived in Saginaw, TX, where Morton was a barber and Isebelle
loved being a homemaker and mother to Annette and Michael. In 1968, she gave birth to Laura Bell,
and in 1971, the family moved to Burleson, TX. They joined Boulevard Baptist Church where Morton
was ordained a deacon and helped plan and break ground on the current sanctuary in 1973. That same
year, Annie Laura suffered a stroke and Isebelle cared for her mother in their home during her final
days. Morton suffered two heart attacks and passed on March 13, 1974. Isebelle raised the three
children, supporting the household by serving children at Boulevard Baptist Day Care in Burleson and
Bible Baptist Day Care in Cleburne. At Boulevard Baptist, their pastor referred to her as his “assistant
pastor” because she was always willing to do whatever was needed. In 1986, she took a position at Wal-
Mart in Burleson and retired from the store in 2001. She moved to Alvarado in 2001, where she made
many friends at Alvarado Seniors Apartments, whom she loved to care for like family, at Central Baptist
Church, where she worshipped and served faithfully for many years, and in the community. She lived
near and was able to provide care for her great-great nephew, Dylan Ray, from his infancy to teen years,
a relationship she cherished. In January 2022, she moved to Arlington, TX, where she lived in a
retirement community for 2 ½ months. While in her new home, although her illness kept her mostly in
her apartment, she made many friends and continued her ministry of serving others to the best of her
ability.
Throughout the years of being widowed, Isebelle cared for numerous friends and family members. She
was truly the hands and feet of God -- visiting and caring for family and friends in any way she could,
supporting church and work friends, inviting others to stay in her home, and sharing whatever she had
up to her final days on Earth. She was independent, strong of spirit, and strong in her Christian faith.
She loved the Lord and it showed in the love and care she shared with all who knew her. She prayed for
her family and friends. She worried over those away from God or floundering. She rejoiced when she
saw her loved ones growing in their faith and thriving. Visiting with those she loved was a true joy, and

she took every opportunity she could to do so. We know she is already looking for those of us who
remain to come see her in Glory. She’ll love catching up.
Isebelle is preceded in death by her husband, Morton Baxter Patterson; father, Nathan Lorenzo Stewart;
mother, Annie Laura (Lee) Stewart; nine half-siblings; brother, Nathan Lacy Stewart; sister-in-law, Lois
(Green) Stewart; brother, Lee Stewart; sister-in-law, Billie Lou (Allred) Stewart; sister, Bobby Nelda
(Stewart) Tuck; brother-in-law, Henry Tuck; daughter-in-law, Kathryn Lee White; several beloved nieces
and nephews, and many dear friends. She dreamed of the reunion she is now celebrating with them in
Heaven.
Isebelle, also known as Ise, Aunt Ise, Momma, Mema, Grandma, and Great-Grandma, is survived by her
daughter, Catherine Annette Patterson; son, Michael David Patterson; daughter-in-law, Elonda Fay
(Pierce) Patterson; daughter, Laura Bell (Patterson) Smith; son-in-law, Timothy Charles Smith;
grandchildren: Paul Michael Tanner, Richard Dewayne Tanner, wife Sonya Marlene Tanner, Cody
Hammond, Christopher Hammond, Jonathon Michael Patterson, wife Amanda Marcella (Bentley)
Patterson, Tommy Matthew Patterson, Victoria Elizabeth (Smith) Bolin, husband Brandon Wesley Bolin,
and Bradley Arthur Smith; great-grandsons: David Dewayne Tanner, Austin Lucas Patterson, Giovanni
Austin Patterson, Dylan Michael Patterson, Eli Wyatt Patterson, and Tatum Robert Patterson; many
nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great nieces, and great-great nephews; and a
multitude of beloved friends who were extended family.

Those who wish to donate to a charity in memory of Isebelle are encouraged to give to an organization
that supported her in much the same way she supported others: theBreadConnection.org of Keene, TX.

Services to celebrate her life:

-Viewing from 6-8 PM, Monday, March 28th, at Clayton Kay Vaughan Funeral Home, 200 E. Patton Ave, Alvarado, TX 76009

-Funeral at 10 AM, Tuesday, March 29th, at Boulevard Baptist Church, 315 N. Burleson Blvd, Burleson, TX  76028

-Burial at 12 noon, Tuesday, March 29th, at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park, 5725 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville, TX  76034

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 12:34-35

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