Isa Nicolas Jaber

Nov. 22, 1929 – May 5, 2016

SUGAR LAND, Texas — Isa Nicolas Jaber died Thursday, May 5, 2016, following a long period of suffering from several serious illnesses.

A private graveside service will be at the Natchez City Cemetery.

One of eight children, Isa Jaber was born Nov. 22, 1929, in Ramallah, Palestine, the son of Nicola Salem Jaber and Azizeh S. Jaber.

Educated at Jerusalem’s Terra Sancta College in 1948, he made his way to the United States via Ellis Island. He graduated in 1952, with a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

He and his wife, Pat, met on a blind date and were married April 10, 1952, in Fountain City, Tenn.

He proudly served with honor in the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army from 1955-1957. His professional career was spent as a valued employee of International Paper Company. His insight and creativity was instrumental in establishing computer processes that eventually powered enormous paper plants around the United States and Canada.

He was a devout Christian gentleman and was an ordained deacon. He was a Free Mason, a Shriner of the Wahabi Temple and a long term member of the Natchez Kiwanis Club.

Isa Jaber will be remembered for his great intellect, kindness to strangers and his abiding love of his wife and family.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 64 years, Mary Patricia Bailey Jaber, who was his constant caregiver assisted by his youngest sister, Aida Jaber of Houston; two sons, Tommy Jaber and wife, Andi, of Missouri City, Texas and their children, Benjamin of San Diego, Calif., Patricia, of Houston, and Joseph and wife, Heather, of St. Louis, Danny Jaber of Denver, and his children, Tucker, Bailey and Vida of Grand Junction, Colo.; one daughter, Julie Chism and husband, Brad, of Madison, and their children, William of New York and Salem of San Francisco; and sister, Hind Hanania of Jacksonville, Fla.

The family is grateful for the superb intensive care he received from Methodist Hospital, A-Med Hospice Care and the kind staff at the Emerus Clinic in Sugar Land.

Because of pop’s love for University of Tennessee football, the family suggests that any contributions in his memory may be sent to: The University of Tennessee Athletics Annual Gift Program, B026 Conference Center Building, Knoxville, TN 37996, Attention: Suzie Miller — UT Athletics.