By Bonita Wilborn
Taken from the Isbell Medical Group Facebook page, posted on Thursday, December 29, 2022:
He is a legend. Where do you begin? What are the appropriate words? Dr. Blake Isbell worked his last GYN clinic schedule at Isbell Medical Group (IMG) today and walked down the hall and out the back door to his well-deserved retirement.
So many mixed emotions today!
While we are obviously so happy he is able to retire and spend his days with big plans or no plans, travel around the world or around the town with his best girl, enjoy his kids and grandkids and his family as much as he wants…even though he deserves days and days of rest and relaxing, we are going to miss him terribly at the office! Today was an emotional day for all of us, and many tears were shed. At the end of the day, we all just kinda stood around trying to put off that last walk down the hall. We don’t have to tell any of you what a great man he is; if you know him, you know. He has impacted so many lives in this community with his excellent patient care that is second to none, his brilliant mind, always the go-to for anything we can’t remember, and his huge heart for the Lord that spilled over into anyone he came in contact with. He has been our center and our compass with a quiet, steady, confident leadership that he learned from the very best before him, quietly and humbly keeping the integrity and morality bar very high. Dr. Blake has worked hard to continue the great legacy of IMG and continued it well. He is a nut and so much fun to be around and to work with. His “hilarious” jokes will certainly be missed! He does not like the attention. He did not want a big deal made. In fact, his words were, “I just want to ride off quietly into the sunset.”
We will let you ride, but not without a very inadequate “Thank you. We love you, and oh how we will miss you, Dr. Blake!”
Dr. Blake Isbell was born and raised in Fort Payne. He is a 1971 graduate of Fort Payne High School. He furthered his education at Auburn University (1971-1975) and then at the University of Alabama School of Medicine from 1975-1979, where he graduated with honors (Alpha Omega Alpha). He completed his Ob/Gyn training at Caraway Methodist Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1983, serving as Chief Resident.
Dr. Blake began his OB/GYN practice in Fort Payne in 1983, joining his father, Dr. John Isbell, and his uncle, Dr. Charles Isbell, with Isbell Clinic, which later became known as Isbell Medical Group. He continued to practice in the OB/GYN field for 36 years. Dr. Blake retired from obstetrics in 2018 but continued to see GYN patients, bringing his total number worked in that field to 39 ½ years.
Mountain Valley News would like to say congratulations to Dr. Blake Isbell. We hope you have a long and happy retirement.