Bess Isaacs

Elizabeth Winchester Isaacs

Elizabeth "Bess" W. Isaacs was born on June 21, 1925 in Clayton, New Mexico to Dr. James McNeill Winchester and Ruth M. Squires, and died on July 8, 2025 at her home in Clayton, New Mexico. She attended school in Amarillo, Texas and graduated from Amarillo High School in 1942. She attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado then graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee in 1947. She took her nursing boards in 1948 with her class at Vanderbilt. After graduation, Bess returned to Clayton and worked for her father for 6 months. She married Robert Phillip Isaacs in October 1948, and he said "If you have time to work you can work at the store." On March 31, 1950 their first son, Henry McNeill Isaacs was born. He died on March 24, 2005. On February 12, 1954 their second son, David William Isaacs was born. He is retired from the Army and the hardware store and continues to live in Clayton. On February 20, 1956, their only daughter, Mary Madelaine Isaacs was born. She lives in Roy, New Mexico with her husband, Enrique Laumbach. On July 11, 1958, their last child, Richard Winchester Isaacs was born. Richard and his wife Sheryl are both retired from the hardware store and live south of Clayton.

She is survived by her sons David W. Isaacs and Richard and wife Sheryl Isaacs all of Clayton, New Mexico; daughter Mary M. Laumbach and husband Enrique "Rick" Laumbach of Roy, New Mexico; daughter-in-law Nelda Isaacs of Clayton, New Mexico; grandchildren Jeanette Darlington and her husband Lee, Robert W. Isaacs and his wife Diana, Rebecca Bruno and her husband Tory, John Isaacs and his wife Luana, Kimberly Trumball and her husband Trumball, Steven Isaacs and his wife Hannah, Loretta, Danny and Lynda Laumbach and Patricia and Liam Isaacs; and 24 great-grandchildren.

Bess was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 3 sons (Robert, John and Mac) and both brothers (Robert "Bob" and William "Bill") an infant sister and 1 granddaughter (Charlotte).

During her 100 years of life, Bess was involved in many civic and social clubs. She was a registered nurse (BSN) and held an active nursing license for 78 years. She was a girl scout leader, cub and boy scout den mother, earned her 75 year pin in the Order of Eastern Star. She is one of the oldest members of American Legion Auxiliary and served several years as an EMT, She continues to hold membership with Queen Esther Chapter #1 OES in Raton, NM, American Legion Auxiliary Unit #0077 in Logan, NM and is a life member with Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Herzstein Memorial Museum. She was a member of Country Ladies Red Hat Society, Belles Lettres Book Club Low Rollers Investment Club When her husband died she managed the family business with the help of her sons, Mac, David and Richard. In 2007, she received the Outstanding Older Worker of New Mexico and attended the national conference in Washington DC. In 2014, she was awarded Business Person of the Year by the Clayton/Union County Chamber of Commerce.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, July, 16, 2025, at the Clayton Methodist Church with Pastor Kenneth W. Tidmore officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Hass Funeral Home of Clayton. Please view the online obituary and sign the guest book on our website at www.hassfuneralhome.com.