Ila Lourine Wisdom

Ila Laurine Wisdom, 75, passed away on October 16, 2022, in Tyler, Texas.

She was born in Ft Worth, TX on October 21, 1946, to parents Samuel Chester and Janie Belle (Burgess) Haynes.  She grew up in the Ft. Worth area and attended college at the University of North Texas to become a public educator. Ila grew up to be a phenomenal teacher at Haltom High School where she taught Business Education. After retiring she moved to Quitman where she got a job working for attorney Ben Kerr, and there she met her wonderful husband, Hank Wisdom.

Hank and Ila opened a restaurant at Lake Quitman called Hank’s Smokehouse and Wife’s Marina in February of 2001 while Ila was also working as the church secretary for the First United Methodist Church. With Hank’s declining health, they had to close down their business in May of 2006. After the closing of the business, they moved to Rio Grande Valley near McAllen until Hank’s passing in 2010. In 2018 Ila had the opportunity to come back to Lake Quitman and began to get involved in helping the City of Quitman grow.

In 2020 Ila and P.J. Poe Kalenak created a website called Homegrownetx.com, where local suppliers and buyers could be connected with each other. It was something she was very passionate about. Ila was a staple in the community of Quitman. She was involved in several community organizations. She sat on the Board of Directors for the Quitman Chamber of Commerce and served her community by helping organize Christmas on the Square, Hometown Christmas, the Sunday Market in the Park, Quilt Show in the Park, assisted with Quitman-Lake Fork Kiwanis Club Golf Tournament, and coordinate downtown Halloween activities. She also helped a school and church in Mexico. On April 26, 2022, Ila was awarded the Community Builder Award by the Flora Masonic Lodge for her outstanding philanthropic efforts and for distinguishing herself through service to the community.

She is preceded in death by her husband Hank Wisdom; parents Samuel and Janie Haynes; brother Chester Haynes; and stepson, Kerry Osborne.

Left to cherish her precious memory are her children Tara Jobe, and husband Steve, and children Kent and Caitlin; Chad Wisdom, and wife Chrysti and child Cole; Trena Wisdom; and Kelly Osborne, and children Jake, Luke, and Samuel; and granddaughter Maggie Osborne; and many other family members and friends who will miss her loving and kind spirit.

Memorial Celebration of Life for Ila will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at 11:00A.M. at Lowe-Gardner Funerals & Cremations with visitation one hour prior to the service.

At the family’s request, anyone who wishes to honor her legacy may make Memorial Donations to the Quitman Volunteer Fire Department P.O. Box 1855 Quitman, Texas 75783, in place of traditional floral tributes.