Gail Deese, 62, of Murphy died Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009.  She was a native of Fulton County, GA, but had lived most of her life in Stuart, FL before moving to Cherokee County in 2003.  She retired as a district manager with Discover Card Services. Gail was of the Roman Catholic faith.  She enjoyed living in the peaceful mountains of Western North Carolina.

She was the daughter of the late Mac and Mary Stansell Davis.

Surviving are her husband, Kenneth Deese; two sons, Michael Johnson and wife, Mischelle of Stuart and Glenn Steed Johnson of Murphy; and a grandson, Austin Steed Johnson.

A funeral mass was held at 1:00 PM Tuesday, Nov. 17 in St. William Catholic Church with Rev. John T. Howren officiating.

The family received friends from 4-8 Sunday evening at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Gail Deese to the Valley River Humane Society, Veterinarian Fund, 7450 US 19, Marble, NC 28905 or to the American Heart Association, 1100 SE Ocean Blvd, Stuart, FL 34996-2518.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.