Isley, Alan Obituary

Isley, Alan attended Horace Mann High School in Gary, IN. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Isley, Alan.

Graduation Year	Class of 1953
Date of Passing	Nov 19, 2016
About	Alan R. Isley of Denison, passed away Saturday, November 19, after an extended illness in Dallas, Texas. Alan is remembered by those who knew him for having the biggest and kindest heart, but unfortunately it was heart disease that took his life. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday December 10th from 2pm to 4pm at DeVolli's Restaurant, 220 W. Main in Denison. Born February 10, 1936 in Gary, Indiana, Alan graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Business Administration. A life-long love for boating led him to work for his family's boating dealership Isley's Marine Service, Portage Boat Yard on Lake Michigan, and Starcraft Company. After moving to California in 1972, he worked for Kawasaki Motor Corporation and, beginning in 1975, served as president of four national, nonprofit trade associations, all of which focused on the motorcycle and specialty vehicle industries. In his spare time, both before and after his retirement in 1996, Alan pursued another of his passions – music. He played trumpet for several jazz bands before finally forming his own band, The Jazz Life Octette, in California. After moving to Texas in 2001, Alan continued to share his music with diners at DeVolli's Italian Restaurant in Denison. He also played with the Sherman Community Players volunteer orchestra, the Greater Texoma Jazz Orchestra at Austin College, the Gainesville Swing Orchestra, and in various high school musical productions. He even conducted several jazz workshops at Denison High School. In Texas, Alan fulfilled his lifelong dream of living on a lake, when he purchased a home on Lake Texoma's Grandpappy Point. He spent his retirement enjoying his hobbies of restoring wooden boats, photography, and rescuing homeless dogs. His passion for rescuing dogs led him to volunteer much of his time to the Denison Animal Welfare Group. He provided photographs and profiles of dogs available for adoption, and helped update the group's website. Utilizing social media, Alan also worked hard for a number of other animal welfare organizations to help find loving homes for abandoned, abused dogs in need of rescue. Alan is survived by his wife of 16 years, Tammy Mudd Isley of Denison, TX, and her large family in McKinney and California; daughters Deborah Moskus and Dawn Isley, both of Irvine, CA; daughter Diane Isley Cavelti and husband, Stephan of Aptos, CA, son Dale Isley and wife Coylene of Spokane Valley, WA; four wonderful grandchildren, AJ Moskus, Analisa Moskus, Daylene Isley and Cloie Isley; and two brothers – Jack & Cheryl Isley of Valparaiso, IN and Kenneth & Jill Isley of Denison, TX. He also leaves behind his loyal four-legged family of rescues – Tahoe, Buster, Rylee, Nayla, Durango, Jazmin and Caleb. Alan was preceded in death by his parents, Malcolm and Kathryn Isley. Tammy offers special thanks to Alan's daughter Debbie of California, who spent the past six weeks in Texas helping to care for Alan & supporting Tammy. The family would also like to extend their gratitude to the doctors, 5th floor nurses, and staff members at Texoma Medical Center for their dedication and care of Alan. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Alan's name to Animal Refuge Foundation (ARF House) in Sherman or to the Denison Animal Welfare Group (DAWG) in Denison.