Gail Taylor Smith Hale

Gail Taylor Smith Hale, 73, went to be with the Lord on May 14, 2019 after a long valiant battle with cancer.  Gail was a native of Kingsport, TN, born July, 14, 1945.  She graduated from Dobyns Bennett High School and attended both Virginia Intermont College and The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  For many years, she enjoyed catering and later had success as a real estate agent in Kingsport.  Gail was on the board of Kingsport Friends of The Archives, past president of the Kingsport Book Club, a member of Plantation Manor Garden Club, The Questers Club and a past member of Junior League of Kingsport.  

Fondly called “Gigi" by her family, she was known for her quick wit, feisty spirit, and effortless style.   Her lifelong friend, Allison Coven, called her “the spice in her life,” and that is what she was to her family and friends.  Quit was never in her vocabulary, but humor and strength always were.  Gail was humbly proud of her two sons and steadfastly shared memories of their father, Tommy, keeping him ever present in their lives.  She was blessed with three stepchildren who she loved as her own.  Gigi was the consummate “cool’’ grandmother, whether sharing a funny story from her youth, teaching them how to dance the South Carolina Shag, or trying on the highest heels at Beaty’s.  Gail was known for sharing her love of flowers, great recipes, and beautiful decorating.  She treasured trips to the beach with family and friends, antiquing with her best buddies and loved a good book.  With her husband, John, she enjoyed traveling, movies, and, most of all, his sense of humor and talent for the best toast at any gathering.  Her family is deeply grateful for the constant and gentle care John faithfully gave during every step of Gail’s journey.    

She was preceded in death by her parents Arthur Frank Taylor and Helen Parham Taylor, her late husband, Thomas Fletcher Smith, her aunts, Marjorie Stair and Audrey Stair;  her Cousins, John Chiles, Bill Parham,  and Art Stair;  her step daughter, Beth Hale Riemer, and her sister-in-law, Barbara Gipe (Robert).

She is survived by her husband, John William Hale, her two sons, Thomas Christopher Smith (Tracy) and Winthrop Parham Smith (Helen); her step daughter Katherine Hale English (Joel); her stepson, John William Hale, Jr, and step-son-in-law, Dave Riemer; her beloved grandchildren, Caroline and Luke English, John Michael Hale, Kaylie and Sara Riemer, Sullivan Smith, and Ali, Bo and Hannah Smith.   She is also survived by her brother Andrew Frank Taylor (Susan); her cousins Sally Shelburne (Tom), Tom Parham (Martha), Mary Margaret Burtis, and Kent Stair (Jan); her nephews, Perry Taylor (Jane) and Lane Taylor (Chelsea), Bo Ford (Rachel), Robert Gipe and William Gipe (Stacy);  her nieces, Jennifer Hunter (Ron) and Cathy Kilgore (Steve);  her sisters-in-law, Eleanor Ford (Bill), Jenny Wilkie and Julianna Smith;  her  brothers-in-law, Gregory Smith (Virginia Abernethy) and Winthrop Smith.

The family is very grateful for the loving care given by Misty McFarland, Lynn Chandler, Linda Williams and Jorito Plowman, and the lovely nurses and volunteers at Amedisys Hospice and Ballad Hospice House who took exceptional care of Gail for the past year.

A family graveside service will be held at Oak Hill Memorial Park. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, May 20, 2019 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Kingsport, TN with The Rev. Anna Brawley officiating. Visitation and reception to follow in the fellowship hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Amedysis Hospice Foundation

2025 Meadowview Parkway; Suite 101Kingsport,TN 37660, Hospice House Bristol, 280 Steele’s Road
Bristol, TN 37670, or Kingsport Friends of The Archives, 400 Broad St., Kingsport, 37660.