Avid University of Tennessee Vols supporter and ardent Atlanta Braves fan, Celia Gail Kee completed her final home game on January 23, 2013, scoring the ultimate victory over longtime foe, Alzheimer's Disease, which she battled for several years. Her family believes resounding cheers greeted her entry into Heaven.
Born in Leoma, TN, Gail grew up in Ethridge and after high school, moved to Alabama. She married James Dowd and during his military service, the two lived in Germany before returning to Tennessee, where they made their home in Jackson, and had a son and a daughter. She worked for many years at Independent Life Insurance Co. until her marriage to Don Kee, when she joined him in owning the couple's television sales, repair and rental business.
A lifelong seeker of knowledge and patron of the arts, Gail was a voracious reader and helped instill a love of the written word in many others through her adult literacy volunteer efforts. Always ambitious and outgoing, she enjoyed a later career in risk management at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital and in retirement worked part-time at Belk because she enjoyed interacting with people.
Among her many interests, Gail loved to travel and crisscrossed the nation on myriad road trips and longer journeys. Ever one for an adventure, she combined her passions for sports and travel by cheering on her Braves in a World Series championship, and she was also thrilled to witness the Olympic Games in Atlanta. She especially enjoyed international trips, traveling across several continents to visit numerous foreign cities and countries.
Above all, Gail was a strong woman of faith, devoted to her family and friends and until her illness was a faithful member of First Baptist Church.
Gail was preceded in death by parents, Cecil and Hazel Giles, and sister, Ruth Springer.
She leaves behind her son, James Dowd, Jr. of Memphis; daughter, Brenda Briley (Robert) and grandchildren, Trebor and Jennifer Briley of Jackson; sisters, Emma Willingham of Jackson and Marcia Emmons (Ernie) of Florence, AL; and brother, Morris Giles (Mary Catherine) of Lawrenceburg; numerous nephews, nieces and loved ones.
Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at George A. Smith & Sons Funeral Home North Chapel, with funeral to follow.
Born in Leoma, TN, Gail grew up in Ethridge and after high school, moved to Alabama. She married James Dowd and during his military service, the two lived in Germany before returning to Tennessee, where they made their home in Jackson, and had a son and a daughter. She worked for many years at Independent Life Insurance Co. until her marriage to Don Kee, when she joined him in owning the couple's television sales, repair and rental business.
A lifelong seeker of knowledge and patron of the arts, Gail was a voracious reader and helped instill a love of the written word in many others through her adult literacy volunteer efforts. Always ambitious and outgoing, she enjoyed a later career in risk management at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital and in retirement worked part-time at Belk because she enjoyed interacting with people.
Among her many interests, Gail loved to travel and crisscrossed the nation on myriad road trips and longer journeys. Ever one for an adventure, she combined her passions for sports and travel by cheering on her Braves in a World Series championship, and she was also thrilled to witness the Olympic Games in Atlanta. She especially enjoyed international trips, traveling across several continents to visit numerous foreign cities and countries.
Above all, Gail was a strong woman of faith, devoted to her family and friends and until her illness was a faithful member of First Baptist Church.
Gail was preceded in death by parents, Cecil and Hazel Giles, and sister, Ruth Springer.
She leaves behind her son, James Dowd, Jr. of Memphis; daughter, Brenda Briley (Robert) and grandchildren, Trebor and Jennifer Briley of Jackson; sisters, Emma Willingham of Jackson and Marcia Emmons (Ernie) of Florence, AL; and brother, Morris Giles (Mary Catherine) of Lawrenceburg; numerous nephews, nieces and loved ones.
Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at George A. Smith & Sons Funeral Home North Chapel, with funeral to follow.
Avid University of Tennessee Vols supporter and ardent Atlanta Braves fan, Celia Gail Kee completed her final home game on January 23, 2013, scoring the ultimate victory over longtime foe, Alzheimer's Disease, which she battled for several years. Her family believes resounding cheers greeted her entry into Heaven.
Born in Leoma, TN, Gail grew up in Ethridge and after high school, moved to Alabama. She married James Dowd and during his military service, the two lived in Germany before returning to Tennessee, where they made their home in Jackson, and had a son and a daughter. She worked for many years at Independent Life Insurance Co. until her marriage to Don Kee, when she joined him in owning the couple's television sales, repair and rental business.
A lifelong seeker of knowledge and patron of the arts, Gail was a voracious reader and helped instill a love of the written word in many others through her adult literacy volunteer efforts. Always ambitious and outgoing, she enjoyed a later career in risk management at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital and in retirement worked part-time at Belk because she enjoyed interacting with people.
Among her many interests, Gail loved to travel and crisscrossed the nation on myriad road trips and longer journeys. Ever one for an adventure, she combined her passions for sports and travel by cheering on her Braves in a World Series championship, and she was also thrilled to witness the Olympic Games in Atlanta. She especially enjoyed international trips, traveling across several continents to visit numerous foreign cities and countries.
Above all, Gail was a strong woman of faith, devoted to her family and friends and until her illness was a faithful member of First Baptist Church.
Gail was preceded in death by parents, Cecil and Hazel Giles, and sister, Ruth Springer.
She leaves behind her son, James Dowd, Jr. of Memphis; daughter, Brenda Briley (Robert) and grandchildren, Trebor and Jennifer Briley of Jackson; sisters, Emma Willingham of Jackson and Marcia Emmons (Ernie) of Florence, AL; and brother, Morris Giles (Mary Catherine) of Lawrenceburg; numerous nephews, nieces and loved ones.
Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at George A. Smith & Sons Funeral Home North Chapel, with funeral to follow.
Born in Leoma, TN, Gail grew up in Ethridge and after high school, moved to Alabama. She married James Dowd and during his military service, the two lived in Germany before returning to Tennessee, where they made their home in Jackson, and had a son and a daughter. She worked for many years at Independent Life Insurance Co. until her marriage to Don Kee, when she joined him in owning the couple's television sales, repair and rental business.
A lifelong seeker of knowledge and patron of the arts, Gail was a voracious reader and helped instill a love of the written word in many others through her adult literacy volunteer efforts. Always ambitious and outgoing, she enjoyed a later career in risk management at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital and in retirement worked part-time at Belk because she enjoyed interacting with people.
Among her many interests, Gail loved to travel and crisscrossed the nation on myriad road trips and longer journeys. Ever one for an adventure, she combined her passions for sports and travel by cheering on her Braves in a World Series championship, and she was also thrilled to witness the Olympic Games in Atlanta. She especially enjoyed international trips, traveling across several continents to visit numerous foreign cities and countries.
Above all, Gail was a strong woman of faith, devoted to her family and friends and until her illness was a faithful member of First Baptist Church.
Gail was preceded in death by parents, Cecil and Hazel Giles, and sister, Ruth Springer.
She leaves behind her son, James Dowd, Jr. of Memphis; daughter, Brenda Briley (Robert) and grandchildren, Trebor and Jennifer Briley of Jackson; sisters, Emma Willingham of Jackson and Marcia Emmons (Ernie) of Florence, AL; and brother, Morris Giles (Mary Catherine) of Lawrenceburg; numerous nephews, nieces and loved ones.
Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at George A. Smith & Sons Funeral Home North Chapel, with funeral to follow.
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