Kelly Isom

“We are perfect souls caught in painful bodies in an imperfect world.” Kelly Raymond Isom, one of Heavenly Father’s most loving and gentle sons, passed away this week leaving behind his wife Betsy and his two sons Eli and Ben. Everyone who knew and loved “Uncle Bulk” will mourn his passing and celebrate his bravery, his patience, and his love.

Kelly was born on March 13, 1978, to Becky Osborne Isom and Nolan Isom. Throughout his life, Kelly’s mother Becky blessed him with an endless amount of love and with an example of strength and perseverance. Kelly was also blessed with two older brothers, Paul and Mike, who watched out for him and cared for him right down to the very last. From a young age, Kelly was fascinated with the way that things work. He had a kind of natural and spiritual kinship with mechanical systems, electric systems, and with plants: gardens, cars and appliances flourished under his hands. His body was more of a mystery to him, with the blocks it created for learning, and the pain that showed up inexplicably and hung like a cloud over him. In spite of these difficulties, Kelly spent most of his earthly days helping other people, giving his famous big old bear hugs, and trying to explain the beauty of God’s grace as he understood it. He served an LDS mission to Iowa.

God was good to Kelly, and gave him friends like Brandon Pack who watched out for him and carried him through dark times. It was Brandon and his wife Annie who brought Kelly his greatest blessing of all, Elizabeth Jane McFarland. Betsy and Kelly were married on February 6, 2010, for time and for all eternity in the Mount Timpanogos LDS Temple. Betsy and Kelly spent their years laughing, crying, and growing together. They loved traveling and driving together, working in the yard, and working with the students in Betsy’s classroom. Kelly and Betsy were thrilled to bring two boys into the world. Eli and Ben thought Kelly was a superhero. They wrestled, played, joked, and repaired things together. Kelly often said that every day was like a camp out. He taught his boys to look for adventure in everything they do. Above all, Kelly worked hard every day trying to be a positive presence in the lives of Betsy and his boys. His courageous lifelong effort will be cheered by generations to come, and by the angels who will sing his story at the throne of our merciful Father in Heaven.

Kelly is survived by his wife Elizabeth Jane McFarland Isom, his adoring sons Elias Roger Isom and Benjamin George Isom, by his beloved mother Becky Osborne Isom, by his brothers and their wives: Paul and Melissa Isom and Mike and Liz Isom, by Brandon and Annie Pack, by Betsy’s father Roger McFarland and by her siblings Heather McFarland Bean, Rick McFarland, Rob McFarland, Ron Bean, Kathleen Duke McFarland, and Mary Ann Shumway McFarland as well as all those who called him “Uncle Bulk:” Jarrah, Sam, Chance, Isaac, Hailey, Hannah, Mary, Ethan, Andrew, Clara, Karissa, Nic, Kaiden, Lynli, MaKailey, Zachary, Meghan, Macklin, Jesse, Josh, Tyler, David O., Hannah, Adam, Madeline, Will, Sebastian and Josiah.

Funeral services will be at the LDS Chapel at 50 South 750 West in Orem (near Mountain View High School). In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to Betsy, Eli and Ben at https://www.gofundme.com/kelly-and-betsy-isom or donate to your favorite charity. Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary in Orem will be organizing the funeral.

Condolences for the family may be left on this page.