ISOM, LEE A. AND MARY LOU (MARTINEZ)

by Lee A. and Mary Lou Isom

Entry F211 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Lee Isom Family, 1987. Lee, Mary Lou, Shawn and Charles.

Lee and Mary Lou Isom have lived in
Mullen all of their married years. Lee has
been a native of Mullen, born to Nellie and
Charles Isom on 1929 on the ranch
north of town. He started kindergarten in the
country. His parents and Lee moved into
Mullen and attended first grade here withy
Violet Kraye as his teacher. Claudia Tomp-
kins taught him in the sixth grade. Other
teachers from the area he had were Lawrence
and Arlene Jones and Berneice Wadlow. He
graduated from Mullen High School with the
class of 1947, 5 boys and 8 girls.

Lee worked part-time at the Co-op during
his high school years and after graduation. He
served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950 to
1953, serving in Korea in 1951 and 1952. After
his discharge, he went into the grocery
business and then managed Lee's Market
from 1959 to 1974. Helping him at the meat-
market the 15 years he operated it were
Bunny Jacobs, Joan Garner, June Evans, and
Hazel Schoene. Lee had quite a meat market
business near and far. After the fire in
November 1974, he worked for Sexton Feed
and also drove the Handi-Bus. In 1983, he
was sworn in as Hooker County Treasurer
and the job he still holds.

Mary Lou, was born to Louis and Micaela
Martinez, attended and graduated from
Hershey High School in 1952. She attended
Kearney Stste and earned her two-year
teaching certificate. She started teaching
first grade here in Mullen in the fall of 1954.
Lee and Mary Lou were married on June 8,
1959. Between summer school, correspon-
dence and off-campus classes Mary Lou
graduated in 1970. She quit teaching in 1973.

They have two sons, Shawn, who is attend-
ing Mid-Plains Community College and
Charles, who is in the seventh grade. Shawn
graduated from Mullen High School in 1987.
(Lee had his 40th year at the Alumni). Shawn
participated in football, basketball, track,
and high school rodeo. This last spring the
team composed of Shawn, John Phipps,
Mark Roseberry, and Tom Wiese ran the 440
relay in 46.6 earning a trip to the State Track
Meet. Charles is an avid reader winning the
State Read-A-Thon three years in a row. He
enjoys basketball and is a member of the
Junior M.Y.F.

They are all members of the United
Methodist Church and take an active part in
the church. Lee was head usher for many
years and serves on the Financial Board at
the present. Mary Lou is in choir and plays
the organ.