Tony Lee Isabell

View Funeral Webcast Tony Lee Isabell, better known as Mr. T by his friends and family, 77, resident of Mooresville Pike, died Sunday at Maury Regional Medical Center from complications of Myasthenia Gravis also known as the “snow flake disease” which he was diagnosed with on October 17, 2019 by Dr. Tim Gordon and Dr. Lucy Ledbetter. This disease only affects 1 out of 100,000 people. Mr. Isabell also fought bladder cancer for 10 years, and was scheduled to go to Vanderbilt University Medical Center this month for his 1 year cancer free checkup. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 1:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Roderick Bryson officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born April 28, 1943 in Maury County, he was the son of the late Howard W. Isabell and the late Ethel Jones Isabell. On June 22, 1962, he married Paulette McGee Isabell, and they just recently celebrated 58 years of marriage. Mr. Isabell attended Rowan Tech in North Carolina and also Nashville Auto Diesel College, where he became certified as a Pipe Welder. For many years, Mr. Isabell traveled with Daniels Construction hanging steel across the United States. He then went to work in the furnace department at Monsanto, where he stayed for 15 years until the day the TVA shut the power down. Mr. Isabell started a weight lifting school for under privileged children in Salisbury, North Carolina and was also one of the first lifeguards at the Woodland Park Swimming Pool. He enjoyed deer hunting, camping, was a former golfer, and loved to go to Panama City Beach. Mr. Isabell was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He is survived by his wife, Paulette McGee Isabell of Columbia; daughter, Tracey Isabell (Rob) Robertson of Tampa, FL; son, Chris Isabell of Columbia; sisters, Yvonne Isabell of Columbia, Pam Isabell of Columbia, and Veronica Leonard of Morristown, TN; grandchildren, Brittany Robertson, Kristona (Zachary) Foster, and Roman Michael Isabell; great grandchildren, Kandance Foster, Tyiest Brown, and Paisley Foster; and his special young friend that adored Mr. T, Tiana “Little Miss Keys” Davis. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Stanley Isabell, sisters, Joanne Eskew, Linda Sue Walters, and Thelma Jean “Baby Jean” Isabell; brother-in-law, Jimmy Hanback; and sister-in-law, Judy Jones Isabell. Active pallbearers will include Paul Michael Breeden, Felix Pina, Felix Johnson, Reggie Lacy, Scott Holt, Ellis Shaw, Ron Foster, Derwin Lynch, and Jimmy McGee. Honorary pallbearers will include the Retirees of Monsanto. The family would like to express a special thanks to Dr. Chandler Anderson and staff, Dr. Tim Gordon and staff, Dr. Lucy Ledbetter and staff, Dr. Jim Fitts and staff, Tony Sowell and staff, andthe staff at Famous Auto Rental.