Kathie Isom

In loving memory of Kathie Gubler Isom, born October 10, 1950, the second daughter of Lester and Mary Gubler. Kathie passed peacefully from mortality on December 21, 2024. While these dates mark the beginning and end of her mortal journey, it is the dash between them that truly defines who she is.

Kathie filled her dash with music, service, and excellence. She attended Dixie High School, graduating third in the class of 1968. She aspired to this position because it reflected excellence as a top student and did not require her to give a speech at graduation. Anytime you came across one of Kathie's former classmates or teachers, they would always comment about how dedicated and intelligent she was.

She loved music and was known throughout her life as an outstanding musician. She was known for her singing, playing the flute, and for being a superb pianist. It was the latter that led to her meeting her eternal companion, Floyd Isom, when she was recommended to him as an accompanist for a singing performance at the Washington County Republican Party Convention in June of 1968. They began courting afterward and married in the St. George Temple on December 20, 1968.

Kathie attended some colleges: first at Dixie College and later at State College of Southern Utah with a focus on music. She left school when Floyd graduated in 1971 and began his teaching career. Floyd's first teaching position took them to Eureka, Nevada and after a year they moved to Austin, Nevada to take a teaching position there. It was in Austin where they would welcome their first children to the family: Richard in 1973 and Ari in 1974. In the summer of 1975, they moved to Beatty, Nevada, where they would welcome four more children, Robert (1976), Lori (1982), Kenneth (1986), and Kelli (1992). They stayed in Beatty until after Kelli had graduated high school in 2010 when the timing was right to return to southern Utah.

Music was a central part of Kathie's dash. From helping Floyd as an accompanist when he was teaching music at the schools, to organizing a church choir and hosting community performances in Beatty, to teaching piano to her children and others, throughout her life, Kathie brought joy and beauty through music to numerous people. She served throughout their time in Beatty as the organist and music director for the Beatty Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When they moved to St. George in 2010, she was called to help with the music in the St. George 5th Ward, continuing her legacy of music service throughout her life.

Kathie brought delight to many through her baking and cooking. In addition to bringing joy to her family through the meals she prepared, she could frequently be found taking a meal to a family in need of love and support. At Christmas time, Kathie was legendary for baking a dozen or more varieties of cookies that were then organized on cookie plates to take to neighbors and friends in the community. Floyd states that the week leading up to delivering the cookie plates was one of the hardest weeks of each year because the cookies were off-limits until the plates had been made and delivered-this was a sentiment his kids shared.

The Nevada desert was hardly a friendly environment to cultivate an inviting yard with trees, flowers, grass, and a garden plot and yet Kathie learned to tame the harsh desert soil and add a personal oasis for her family to enjoy.

Kathie was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Lester, and granddaughter, Tirzah Isom. Kathie is survived by her husband Floyd, and children Richard (Anneliese), Ari Montgomery, Robert (Carrie Sue), Lorilynn, Kenneth (Shari), and Kelli (John) Tharp. Surviving grandchildren include Michael (Amy) Isom, Kathrine Isom, Rachel (Dallin) Garlick, Timothy Isom, and Natalie Isom; Keturah Isom, Shoshannah (Carlos) Tovias, Amariah Isom, Micaiah Isom, Nathanael Isom, and Zipporah Isom; Benjamin Isom; and William Tharp, and Matthew Tharp. Great grandchildren include Theo and Ollie. Kathie is survived by her sister Dawnetta (Steve) Perry and brother Jerry (Linda) Gubler and many nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

A graveside service will be held Friday, January 3, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Tonaquint Cemetery located at 1777 South Dixie Drive, St. George. Friends may call on Thursday, Jan. 2, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff St, St. George. The service will be live streamed and the link is listed below.

Kathie Isom Graveside Service Broadcast Link:

SERVICE RECORDING

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary. 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to share memories on Kathie's digital memorial page at www.SpilsburyMortuary.com