Katherine Steil Neese, 93, beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother passed away peacefully on October 17, 2015 at her home. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Robert Neese, her parents, Mary and Dettmer Steil and her Aunt Margaret Pugh. A memorial service to celebrate Kay's life will be held on Friday, November 6, 2015 11:00 AM at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, with the family receiving friends at 10:00 AM in the Earline Robertson Rom. She is survived by her children, Karen Tomlinson (her husband Allan), Tim Neese (his wife Jackie), and Michael Neese (his wife Lisa); grandchildren Ashleigh Pike (her husband Crawford), Grant Cornett (his wife Janine), Lindsey Chadbourne (her husband Chad), and Ben Neese; her beloved great grandchildren, Cailin and Georgia Cornett, Tatum and Harrison Pike and Annabelle and Holden Chadbourne. Kay was born in Mansfield, Ohio and attended Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, VA. In 1942, on a street in Cleveland, Ohio she met a dashing young 1st Lt. in the Army Air Corps, Bob Neese. They married July 31, 1943 in Mansfield, Ohio and moved to Columbus, Ms. where Bob was stationed. Kay became involved in a myriad of civic activities. She was a life member of the Junior Auxiliary of Columbus, a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church for 70 years and the ECW, participated heavily in the Republican Party of Mississippi during the 1950's, 60's and 70's. A passionate gardener, who loved her half wild almost 3 acres of land, Kay became a Master Gardener at the age of 80 and was a member of the Columbus Garden Club. In 1984, her political bent led her to run for Election Commissioner for District 2. She held that position for 16 years until, as she said "time for a younger soul," in 2000. Kay and Bob were founding members of the Lowndes County Chowder and Marching Society. The whole family would like to thank two precious angels, Carrie Brooks and Betty Jefferson, whose care and warm compassion for our Mother was much appreciated. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to either St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 318 College Street, Columbus, MS 39701 or the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society, P.O. Box 85, Columbus, MS 39703
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