Frances Jeanette Thatcher Kees attributed her longevity to an active body and an active mind. She rode a bicycle until she was 90. She was an avid conversationalist. And she had become an annual celebrity at the Alexandria Fair, where she rode in a horse-drawn carriage to the cheers of crowds last year at age 101.
Mrs. Kees died Tuesday in Edgewood, three months shy of her 102nd birthday.
She reared five children on the family truck farm.
"She was always doing something," said her son, George Kees Jr. of Alexandria.
She was a member of Alexandria United Methodist Church, where she formerly served on the board of trustees, the finance committee and several other groups. She was the only surviving member of the first graduating class at Campbell County High School, graduating in 1912, one of a class of four.
Mrs. Kees' father raised draft horses and helped organize the Alexandria Fair. She attended every Alexandria Fair since her birth, her son said.
"She loved horses. She used to ride sidesaddle in her younger days. She courted with horses and carriages," he said.
Mrs. Kees maintained a correspondence with University of Kentucky fraternity brothers of a son killed in World War II, George Kees said.
When Mrs. Kees was 85, a youngster stole a bicycle off her porch. Mrs. Kees jumped on another bicycle, chased him down and caught him, her son said.
She was a member of the Alexandria Golden Age Club and was a life member of the Eastern Star.
Other survivors include a daughter, Bess K. Turner of Alexandria; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Kees died Tuesday in Edgewood, three months shy of her 102nd birthday.
She reared five children on the family truck farm.
"She was always doing something," said her son, George Kees Jr. of Alexandria.
She was a member of Alexandria United Methodist Church, where she formerly served on the board of trustees, the finance committee and several other groups. She was the only surviving member of the first graduating class at Campbell County High School, graduating in 1912, one of a class of four.
Mrs. Kees' father raised draft horses and helped organize the Alexandria Fair. She attended every Alexandria Fair since her birth, her son said.
"She loved horses. She used to ride sidesaddle in her younger days. She courted with horses and carriages," he said.
Mrs. Kees maintained a correspondence with University of Kentucky fraternity brothers of a son killed in World War II, George Kees said.
When Mrs. Kees was 85, a youngster stole a bicycle off her porch. Mrs. Kees jumped on another bicycle, chased him down and caught him, her son said.
She was a member of the Alexandria Golden Age Club and was a life member of the Eastern Star.
Other survivors include a daughter, Bess K. Turner of Alexandria; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Frances Jeanette Thatcher Kees attributed her longevity to an active body and an active mind. She rode a bicycle until she was 90. She was an avid conversationalist. And she had become an annual celebrity at the Alexandria Fair, where she rode in a horse-drawn carriage to the cheers of crowds last year at age 101.
Mrs. Kees died Tuesday in Edgewood, three months shy of her 102nd birthday.
She reared five children on the family truck farm.
"She was always doing something," said her son, George Kees Jr. of Alexandria.
She was a member of Alexandria United Methodist Church, where she formerly served on the board of trustees, the finance committee and several other groups. She was the only surviving member of the first graduating class at Campbell County High School, graduating in 1912, one of a class of four.
Mrs. Kees' father raised draft horses and helped organize the Alexandria Fair. She attended every Alexandria Fair since her birth, her son said.
"She loved horses. She used to ride sidesaddle in her younger days. She courted with horses and carriages," he said.
Mrs. Kees maintained a correspondence with University of Kentucky fraternity brothers of a son killed in World War II, George Kees said.
When Mrs. Kees was 85, a youngster stole a bicycle off her porch. Mrs. Kees jumped on another bicycle, chased him down and caught him, her son said.
She was a member of the Alexandria Golden Age Club and was a life member of the Eastern Star.
Other survivors include a daughter, Bess K. Turner of Alexandria; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Kees died Tuesday in Edgewood, three months shy of her 102nd birthday.
She reared five children on the family truck farm.
"She was always doing something," said her son, George Kees Jr. of Alexandria.
She was a member of Alexandria United Methodist Church, where she formerly served on the board of trustees, the finance committee and several other groups. She was the only surviving member of the first graduating class at Campbell County High School, graduating in 1912, one of a class of four.
Mrs. Kees' father raised draft horses and helped organize the Alexandria Fair. She attended every Alexandria Fair since her birth, her son said.
"She loved horses. She used to ride sidesaddle in her younger days. She courted with horses and carriages," he said.
Mrs. Kees maintained a correspondence with University of Kentucky fraternity brothers of a son killed in World War II, George Kees said.
When Mrs. Kees was 85, a youngster stole a bicycle off her porch. Mrs. Kees jumped on another bicycle, chased him down and caught him, her son said.
She was a member of the Alexandria Golden Age Club and was a life member of the Eastern Star.
Other survivors include a daughter, Bess K. Turner of Alexandria; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
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