Isabelle Gladys Lemmon

Isabelle Gladys Lemmon, age 95, of Fort Collins passed away Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012 at The Good Samaritan Society of Fort Collins. Isabelle was born on June 14, 1916 Flag Day in Fairbury, Nebraska to Henry and Lulu Nitzel. She was raised on the family farm where she learned valuable life skills. Isabelle graduated from Fairbury High school. She married Vernon Oscar Lemmon on June 21, 1936. From this union are daughters Beverly Jean and Karen Sue. Isabelle and Vernon owned a shoe repair shop in Fairbury, which was sold when Vernon was drafted into the Navy during the war. Isabelle and the girls joined Vernon where he was stationed in California. Once Vernon was deployed, she returned to Fairbury. After the war, Isabelle and Vernon made their home in Fairbury while Vernon was assistant manager of the Golden Rule department store and the local furniture store. The opportunity to move to Berthoud, Colorado with the furniture store was the beginning of a new life for them. Many new friendships and church activities became some of the best times of their lives. After moving to Fort Collins a few years later, Kirk Eugene was born and another era of their lives began. Vernon & Isabelle worked together to have a successful business of their own, Custom Carpets for many years in Fort Collins. Their business and many more treasured friendships filled their active lifestyle. Isabelle was a Homemaker, Girl Scout and 4-H Leader for 5 years, member of 1st United Methodist Church Clipper Class, Mountain View Extension Club, Knife and Fork Club and Good Sam Summer Bummers Camping Group. She was the Courtesy Chair for AARP for 20 years, received a Human Relationship Award from the City of Fort Collins in 2002, served as the Historian for Casa Grande Condo Association, and was active in the senior center participating in many of the senior travel trips. She enjoyed flowers, gardening, and canning, crafting, embroidery. Family, friends and neighbors always looked forward to Vernon and Isabelle's home beautifully decorated for Christmas as well as handmade table decorations. In 1959, they received the best decorated home award from the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce. She was always the chauffer, taking friends to places of interest and bravely driving over Loveland Pass to take Kirk and his friends skiing. She traveled to Hawaii for her 80th birthday, a lifelong dream. Isabelle wrote her autobiography and documented many of her treasured memories for the family. Due to complications from a fall, Isabelle moved to The Good Samaritan in 2006 where she became known as the Queen of Bingo, spent time stitching embroidery and running her electric scooter up and down the halls to attend activities. Isabelle was preceded in death by her parents Henry & Lulu, husband Vernon in 1982, brothers, Harold, Johnnie and Dale. She is survived by daughters, Beverly McCue Dale and Dr. Karen Powell Ernie, son, Kirk Lemmon Yvonne; grandchildren, Craig Alldredge Tina, Rick Alldredge, Scott Sterkel Carol, Jennifer St. Cyr Michael and Shawn Lemmon; great grandchildren, Cameron and Bradley Alldredge, Isaiah and Elijah Sterkel, Courtney and Mathew St. Cyr. A memorial service will be held in the Chapel at The Good Samaritan of Fort Collins, 508 W. Trilby Rd on Sunday, April 15th at 1:00 pm with a reception following the service. A Graveside Service will be held at Green Lawn Cemetery in Berthoud on Monday, April 16th, at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made payable to The Good Samaritan Society of Fort Collins in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524.