From The Tribune staff reports
CLAY — The Clay City announced the death of a longtime city employee.
Don Isbell, Clay’s Code Enforcement Officer/Building Inspector passed away on Aug. 28, according to City Manager Ronnie Dixon.
Visitation will be Tuesday, August 31, 2021, at Patterson-Forest Grove Funeral Home 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. The funeral service will be Wednesday, September 1, 2021, at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery Forest Grove Memorial Gardens. Bro. Brian Smith officiating.
Dixon provided the following statement about his friend and fellow employee:
“The City of Clay, administrators, and employees mourn the loss of our great friend and fellow employee Don Isbell,” Dixon wrote.
“Don was, simply put, a great man. He loved His Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, above all other things in this life. He loved his wife, Kay, and all of his family. He loved his church family, and he loved his work family at Clay. He was a friend to all, a grandfather to some, a father to some, a mentor to all of Public Works, and a brother to me. A brother in Christ and a brother in work. We were a great team in the build-out of Clay, consulting with all of the contractors we’ve had the privilege of working with over the last 9 years. Don never met a stranger, and always left that first meeting with a new friend. Clay is a better place for having Don Isbell serve its citizens for the last 15 years. He is missed already and his impact on Clay will be felt for years to come. Pray for his family in the coming days. He was their rock and they will need God’s strength, peace, and assurance as they navigate this hard, bumpy road they face.”