Carter Isaacs

Published 1:37 pm Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Carter Isaacs moved on to a home in Heaven on Jan. 15, 2025, at the age of 94. Born on March 13, 1930, in Carter County, Tennessee (the inspiration for his middle name), to Ben and Flora Gregg Isaacs, Carter grew up along the banks of the Watauga River in Johnson County.

He often recalled that his first paying job was to arrive early and build the fire at the Frog Pond School, for which he earned 25 cents per week. He watched that same school float down the Watauga River in the 1940 flood. In 1948, he was high school salutatorian in the last class of the Watauga Academy in Butler, Tennessee. During the early 1950s, he served as master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force on the crew of a B-50 bomber.

He returned to farm the hills and hollows in the Dry Hill community of Butler. He married Florence Millsaps in 1953, and they raised two children, Steve and Pat, who, along with spouses Geri Isaacs and Tony Rhudy, survive him. He is also survived by his wife, Marcella Smith Isaacs; grandchildren, Holly Wills, Jesse Rhudy and spouse Keesha, and Ben Isaacs and fiancée Lauren Johnson; and four great-grandchildren, Tyler Wills, Carrie Ledford, and Carter and Maddex Rhudy; his stepchildren, Eddie Lewis, Mike Lewis and spouse Malinda, and Shane Lewis and spouse Brittney; seven step-grandchildren; and 12 step-great-grandchildren.

Florence Isaacs died in 1984. In 1990, he married Patsy Rainbolt and moved to the Doeville community. Patsy died in 2008. Carter married Marcella in 2011, and they lived in Elizabethton, where she loved and cared for him until his death.

Carter was baptized in the waters of the Watauga River in 1943. He served as Sunday school teacher, deacon, and in other roles at Sugar Grove Baptist Church. He continued his Christian service at Little Doe Baptist Church as a deacon and Sunday school teacher.

Carter was friends with everyone he met and could talk their leg off whether he knew them or not. His legacy continues in the children he raised, the wives he loved, the land he farmed, the crops and livestock he grew, the homes he helped build, the friends and neighbors he helped, and even the pies and cakes he baked for others. He will be welcomed by those who preceded him and missed by those who survive him.

Carter was a member of Gideons International of Johnson County and enjoyed going to various churches in the community and sharing the Gideons organization’s mission. He was also active in the Watauga Academy Alumni Association and the Johnson County Cattlemen’s Association, a member of VFW Post 6908 and the Roan Creek Masonic Lodge 679, and was a 50-year member of the American Legion Post 61 of Mountain City.

A service to both honor and celebrate the life of Carter Isaacs was conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton, with Pastor Ray Green and Pastor Brian Holloway officiating. Music was under the direction of Sue Hamm. The family received friends from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel prior to the service on Saturday.

The graveside service followed in the Dry Hill Cemetery in Butler, Tennessee. Active pallbearers were Jesse, Carter, and Linnie Rhudy, Ben Isaacs, Terry Jordan, and Lynn Snyder. Honorary pallbearers were Eddie Lewis, Mike Lewis, Shane Lewis, Kelly Crain, the Rev. Jim Hawk, the Rev. Kreg Smith, Larry Potter, Phillip Garver, Paul Lowe, Terry Potter, and Tom Kyte.

A special thank you to Ivy Hall Nursing Home, especially Judy Deloach, Lisa, Tammy, Tiffany, Katlyn, Kristi, Jill, Zoie, Jonathan, and Patrick, for their love and compassion during Carter’s illness.

Words of sympathy may be shared with the family by visiting our website at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com. Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton is honored to serve the Isaacs family. Office phone: (423) 542-2232.