Graveside services for Christine E. Hird Isern, 81, Lawrence, will be at 2 pm Tuesday at Memorial Park Cemetery. A visitation will be held Monday from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Casual attire.
Christine Elizabeth (Hird) Isern was born 3/28/37 on Easter Sunday to Harold H Hird and Bonnie Buchheim. A turbulent start, she was relinquished at birth because her mother was not expected to survive. Her mother did survive and she was raised by her biological parent’s. She wrote, “Growing up an active little brat, I gave my parents a lot of expenses with broken bones”. Christine a.k.a Betty Hird spent lots of time on the Buchheim family farm.
She attended Lawrence schools and graduated in 1955. She attended KU between 1955-1958 and again in 1977-1978. She majored in communications, sociology and law studies.
She married Lawrence Isern after meeting him at a KU Football game. They were married March 28th 1958 on her birthday. Larry often spoke of the beautiful eyes looking up at him in the stands. They were married for 37 years at the time of Larry’s Death November 2nd 1995.
Her daughter Ganis was born in 1959 and Trina in 1968.
Over the years she worked for Charleton Insurance Agency, State of Kansas Physics Department, Mortons Building Materials, Urban Renewal, Pendleton Law Office, Douglas County Senior Services, Lawrence Memorial Hospital and finally for Don Strole and Sally Kelsey Attorney’s at Law. Christine loved working with people and attempted to help people in various ways. She was President of WestPerry Park Neighborhood Association, served on the Lawrence School District Districting Committee and served 6 years on the Lawrence City Traffic Commission. She was active PTA member and enjoyed party planning at the schools. She Was an active participant in the Class of 1955 reunion committee and cherished her friends.
She adored her daughters, grandchildren (Chase, Quincy and Keiron Langston) and many friends, often telling people they were the flowers in her life. When Larry became ill with Multiple Sclerosis in 1984, Christine both cared for him and worked until his death in 1995. She kept active with Lawrence High School Class of 1955 activities and shopping. Christine always had a project on which she was working, a cause for which to fight for or a bargain to be found. Following Larry’s death, Christine enjoyed working as a legal secretary; until she was forced retire in 2011 due to failing health. Into her 80’s she would often tell doctors that she wanted to go back to work because she found it so rewarding. In her failing health she enjoyed daily long car rides until she could not longer make it to the car.
In recent years Christine was frustrated with limitations brought on by COPD and asthma. She was cared for by her daughters, Trina and Ganis and had help of Linda Lash and Lisa Chamberlain and staff of Keep Living at Home.
She died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, at LMH surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her daughters Ganis Himes and Trina Langston (Pete); grandsons, Chase, Quincy and Keiron Langston and “Sweetie” her beloved cat.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Lawrence Humane Society, send in care of the funeral home.
