Dee Kessel

Dee Kessel was "fearfully and wonderfully made," born on March 22, 1939, and went to her heavenly home on March 31, 2025. She always called Chattanooga her earthly home. She graduated as valedictorian from Central High School in 1957, where she was voted May Queen. She attended college at the University of Tennessee Memphis before marrying and becoming a mother.

Dee was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Bessie Hoffmeyer, her sister, Kay Waters, her daughter, Lindee Spangler, and her husband, Paul Kessel. She is survived by her sister, Ann McClintock; her daughters, Jan Harley (Steve) and Dana Bryan (Gary); her grandchildren, Courtney (Clay), Ashley (Cameron), Mary Beth (James), Sawyer (Shannon); and great-grandchildren, Caden, Cooper, John Lucas, and Silas. She also leaves many dear and precious friends.

A devoted member of Hixson Presbyterian Church for many decades, she sang in the choir, and served as a greeter, blessing many with her welcoming spirit, radiant smile, gift of encouragement, and exuding Christlikeness. She loved music (taught piano), going on walks, gardening, and reading. Dee volunteered often throughout the years with organizations such as Hospice and Meals on Wheels. She spent her later years as a selfless caregiver for her late husband and daughter.

In the last few years, Morning Pointe of Hixson became Dee's home where she was loved and cared for by their precious staff who became a second family. Friends there remembered her as "our leader and the sweet lady who loved and was always walking!" Most recently, Dee was cared for by wonderful Hearth Hospice and Solomon's House.

Dee loved the poem "A Psalm of Life" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and often quoted it. "Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; dust thou art, to dust returnest, was not spoken of the soul." Dee's life was reflected the final thoughts of that poem: "And departing leave behind us footprints on the sands of time... that perhaps a forlorn and shipwrecked brother, seeing, shall take heart again... let us then be up and doing, with a heart for any fate; still achieving, still pursuing, learn to labor and to wait." Dee's earthly wait is now over, but her faithful footprints remain on many hearts, and her soul lives on.

Each morning, Dee would remind herself and others that "This is the day that the Lord has made." Her family is rejoicing and glad that she is with her Heavenly Father and Shepherd in her eternal home, and they are assured that when she fell asleep on earth, she woke up in the presence of the Lord. As she has been longing for, she is in her heavenly HOME! Dee's shared vision of heaven was that her sight and hearing would be restored, and she would see God's beauty while sitting under a tree reading a book, eating an apple, seeing beautiful flowers and waters, and hearing birds sing beautiful melodies!

She is so dearly loved and will be greatly missed! Until we meet again, she will always be remembered as humble, wise, patient, full of sweetness, smiles, gratefulness, kindness, love, and prayers for others. Her smile brightened the room and shone for the Lord. Dee always requested that there be no services after her passing, except for her family to share and scatter her ashes and to "love one another." The family shares that wish with all her friends. As Jesus commanded, "Just as I have loved you, you are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35).