Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Name“Bud” Grover Russell ISLEY 
470, Grover Russell "Bud" Isley,261, Ruby Mae Wood Isley
470, Grover Russell "Bud" Isley,261, Ruby Mae Wood IsleyBirthAug 23, 1930470, Grover Russell "Bud" Isley
DeathFeb 8, 2017, North Carolina470, Grover Russell "Bud" Isley
BurialMount Hermon Memorial Cemetery(Mount Hermon Methodist Church), 4178 Mt. Hermon Rock Creek Road, Graham, Alamance County, North Carolina470, Grover Russell "Bud" Isley
FatherGrover Alfred ISLEY (1900-1984)
MotherBetty Fannie LEWIS (1905-1992)
Obituary Online notes for “Bud” Grover Russell ISLEY
2/10/2017
Grover Russell Isley
Grover Russell Isley 8/23/1930 – 2/8/2017 “A True Farmer”
BURLINGTON – Mr. Russell Isley, 86 years old, went to his heavenly home on Wednesday, February 8, 2017.
He will now be farming on God’s soil. He was a true farmer and loved it. As some have said, “No one ever worked harder than Russell.”
He began showing cows in 4-H and FFA at the age of 16 at the NC State Fair.
When he was 20 years old, he started his own dairy selling milk to Melville Dairy. He was in the dairy business for 56 years.
Russell was instrumental in starting a 4-H Dairy Club in 1980. He let 4-Hers who did not own cows use his animals to show at local, district and state fairs. In 1988, he was asked to start the Alamance County Fair. The previous owners had sold the Fair land where ARMC is now and they were no longer planning to have a fair. He was not interested in running a fair even though he showed his cows at fairs in West Virginia, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Florida State Fair, The National Show in Louisville, Kentucky, Dixie Classic Fair and NC State Fair.
Three years went by and Russell felt someone should start the Alamance County Fair. So he and his wife, Jeanette decided to get the franchise and attend the convention to learn how to manage a fair. He ran the fair for 20 years on his own, Bellemont Acres Farm.
During that time, he was recognized for having an outstanding fair in North Carolina and won many awards.
In 1994 Russell was inducted into the NC Livestock Hall of Fame by State Agricultural Commissioner Jim Graham. His picture now hangs in the Jim Graham Building at the NC State Fairgrounds with other farmers from North Carolina. As of 2016, he has shown his animals for 69 years at the NC State Fair longer than anyone in North Carolina.
Russell was honored at the N. C. Fair Convention in 1997 with the most prestigious award, The Holmes-McBride Award for his contribution to agriculture and the fair.
Russell was a member of Mt. Hermon United Methodist Church. He was also a Ruritan member of 30+ years, N. C. DHiA, a 4-H leader for 29 years, a baseball coach, a NCPDCA Board member for 40 years, and a member of Jersey Breeders Association for 50 years.
Russell is survived by his farm girl competitor in the showing, Jeanette Farrell Isley. They were married 58 years and met at the N. C. State Fair in 1954. Children are Russell Lynn “Rusty” Isley (Tamia) of Burlington, DeLane Isley Ward (Steven) of Lexington and Terry Wayne Isley (Christy) of Graham; grandchildren, Jordan Johnson (JJ), Kayla Oliver (Trey), Blake Isley, Kylie Ward, Salem Ward, Carson Ward, Hunter Isley and Morgan Isley; greatgrandchildren, Landon and Colton Oliver; stepgrandchildren, Teri Allred (Tony), Courtney Kennedy and Buddy Kennedy; stepgreat-grandson, Tristan Allred; brother, Richard Isley (Ann) of Graham; and many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Isley was preceded in death by his parents, Grover A. Isley and Betty Lewis Isley; brothers, James Isley and Kenneth Isley; his twin sister, Betty Ruth McPherson; and grandson, Raleigh Ward.
The funeral service will be conducted at Mt. Hermon United Methodist Church on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 2 p.m. by Rev. Jane Almon with the family receiving friends from 12:30 p.m. til 2 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Other times the family will be at the residence.
Rich & Thompson Funeral Home and Crematory in Graham is assisting the family.
Condolences may be offered at www.richandthompson.com. 3, Grover Russell Isley
Grover Russell Isley
Grover Russell Isley 8/23/1930 – 2/8/2017 “A True Farmer”
BURLINGTON – Mr. Russell Isley, 86 years old, went to his heavenly home on Wednesday, February 8, 2017.
He will now be farming on God’s soil. He was a true farmer and loved it. As some have said, “No one ever worked harder than Russell.”
He began showing cows in 4-H and FFA at the age of 16 at the NC State Fair.
When he was 20 years old, he started his own dairy selling milk to Melville Dairy. He was in the dairy business for 56 years.
Russell was instrumental in starting a 4-H Dairy Club in 1980. He let 4-Hers who did not own cows use his animals to show at local, district and state fairs. In 1988, he was asked to start the Alamance County Fair. The previous owners had sold the Fair land where ARMC is now and they were no longer planning to have a fair. He was not interested in running a fair even though he showed his cows at fairs in West Virginia, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Florida State Fair, The National Show in Louisville, Kentucky, Dixie Classic Fair and NC State Fair.
Three years went by and Russell felt someone should start the Alamance County Fair. So he and his wife, Jeanette decided to get the franchise and attend the convention to learn how to manage a fair. He ran the fair for 20 years on his own, Bellemont Acres Farm.
During that time, he was recognized for having an outstanding fair in North Carolina and won many awards.
In 1994 Russell was inducted into the NC Livestock Hall of Fame by State Agricultural Commissioner Jim Graham. His picture now hangs in the Jim Graham Building at the NC State Fairgrounds with other farmers from North Carolina. As of 2016, he has shown his animals for 69 years at the NC State Fair longer than anyone in North Carolina.
Russell was honored at the N. C. Fair Convention in 1997 with the most prestigious award, The Holmes-McBride Award for his contribution to agriculture and the fair.
Russell was a member of Mt. Hermon United Methodist Church. He was also a Ruritan member of 30+ years, N. C. DHiA, a 4-H leader for 29 years, a baseball coach, a NCPDCA Board member for 40 years, and a member of Jersey Breeders Association for 50 years.
Russell is survived by his farm girl competitor in the showing, Jeanette Farrell Isley. They were married 58 years and met at the N. C. State Fair in 1954. Children are Russell Lynn “Rusty” Isley (Tamia) of Burlington, DeLane Isley Ward (Steven) of Lexington and Terry Wayne Isley (Christy) of Graham; grandchildren, Jordan Johnson (JJ), Kayla Oliver (Trey), Blake Isley, Kylie Ward, Salem Ward, Carson Ward, Hunter Isley and Morgan Isley; greatgrandchildren, Landon and Colton Oliver; stepgrandchildren, Teri Allred (Tony), Courtney Kennedy and Buddy Kennedy; stepgreat-grandson, Tristan Allred; brother, Richard Isley (Ann) of Graham; and many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Isley was preceded in death by his parents, Grover A. Isley and Betty Lewis Isley; brothers, James Isley and Kenneth Isley; his twin sister, Betty Ruth McPherson; and grandson, Raleigh Ward.
The funeral service will be conducted at Mt. Hermon United Methodist Church on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 2 p.m. by Rev. Jane Almon with the family receiving friends from 12:30 p.m. til 2 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Other times the family will be at the residence.
Rich & Thompson Funeral Home and Crematory in Graham is assisting the family.
Condolences may be offered at www.richandthompson.com. 3, Grover Russell Isley