Isabel S. Nobel, 63
Isabel S. Nobel, 63, died Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on March 9, 1946, the first child of five born to Harry and Patricia (Singer) Shorey, in New York City.
She studied art and architecture before becoming a flight attendant for Pan American Airlines, which allowed her to travel the world and make friendships she valued all her life.
She met Glendon Bruce, who was also employed with Pan American as a 747 captain, and they married in 1971. They had two children together, Alison and Jonathan, and lived for a short while in Lake Mohawk, N.J., before moving to San Francisco in 1977. During her life time in California, she became educated and certified in the Carden method of primary education, and taught third grade at a Carden school in San Jose, Calif.
The family moved to Kalispell in 1981. Isabel was a dedicated and enthusiastic teacher, and founded Carden School of Kalispell in 1985, starting with a one-room schoolhouse and a small group of students. The school grew to include two buildings housing grades preschool through sixth. She cherished the years that she spent teaching and expanding her school.
She met the love of her life, Cecil Nobel, in the last years of running Carden School. They married in 1991 and she embarked on yet another adventure. Cecil was a wilderness outfitter and guide, and together they built Lion Creek Outfitters into a thriving business, offering both summer pack trips and hunting in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. She loved exploring their corner of the wilderness on horseback.
Following the sale of the outfitting business, she and Cecil spent the past few years transforming their property south of Kalispell into a guest ranch called Artemis Acres, offering trail rides on the fine paint horses they bred.
Of course, no telling of her life would be complete without mention of her deep and absolute love for her grandchildren.
She will be greatly missed by many people, as she touched the lives of all these, plus a great many more, in her life.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Patricia Shorey; and Glendon Bruce, father of Alison and Jonathan.
She is survived by a large and wonderful family, her husband, Cecil Nobel, of Kalispell; a daughter, Alison, and husband, Dan, of Frenchtown; a son, Jonathan, and wife, Kara, of Kila; stepchildren, Jeffrey and wife Sharon, Laurie and husband Roger, Stacia and husband Mike, and Kelly and husband David; grandchildren, Kilah, Zahra, Jaza, Ivy, Moira, Eva and Iris; her father, Harry Shorey, of Kalispell; several uncles and aunts, including Isabel Marriott of Avon, N.J.; brothers, Hank Shorey and wife Hannah of Plano, Texas, and Peter Shorey of Eugene, Ore.; sisters, Jan LeBaron and husband Bill of Oceanport, N.J., and Carol Reid and husband Dave of Thompson Falls; and nieces and nephews, Lindsay, Liz, Jennifer, Corinne, Trisha, Michael, Kara, Samantha and Lily.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Chapel in Kalispell. A private family burial will take place following services.
The family requests that condolences be directed via card to 610 Patrick Cr. Road, Kalispell, MT 59901; and in lieu of food and flowers, contributions be made in the name of Isabel Nobel to the Idaho-Montana Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 921 S. Orchard St., Ste. No. 1, Boise, ID 83705.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Isabel's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Isabel's guest book, offer condolences and share memories.