Celess Lee York

Celess Lee York passed away Thursday, July 28, 2022, at Adamsville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Adamsville, Tennessee at the age of 100 years. One of nine children, Mrs. York was born at home on Thursday, June 22, 1922 in Stewart, Mississippi, the daughter of the late John Limuel and Nancy Riles Dendy.

At the age of 20, Celess went to work in Prairie, Mississippi, with The Gulf Ordinance Plant, a military munitions plant formerly a Proctor & Gamble plant, but was taken over for the war effort from 1942 until the war ended. There she met and married Fred Lee of Shiloh, Tennessee. Soon after moving back to Shiloh, they opened a store called The Trading Post which they ran until Fred's death in 1961. Later, she married Luther York of Jackson, Tennessee, originally of Ramer.

Having lived through the Great Depression and war times, Celess would often tell of coffee and sugar rationing. She would also tell of picking and chopping cotton in the hot Mississippi Delta. She appreciated what she had, always thanking God for her blessings whether they be large or small.

A life-long member of the Huntsville Baptist Church in Huntsville, Mississippi. Celess was a good and kind lady. She enjoyed square dancing, bluegrass, gospel, and country music, and certainly an occasional trip to Tunica. She was loved by her family and friends.

She is survived by two daughters, Brenda Brown of Guys, TN, and Jean Todd and husband Don of Adamsville, TN; six grandchildren, Gina Brown of Guys, TN, Lisa Engle and Randy of Adamsville, TN, Paula Hardy and husband Mike of Murphy, TX, Michelle Clemons and husband Kevin of Murfreesboro, TN, Kerri Haubrich and James of Selmer, TN, and Oneal Brown and wife Brandy of Michie, TN; seven great grandchildren, Sarah Cagle and husband Jonathan of Lexington, TN, Hannah Montgomery of Corinth, MS, Paige Deer and husband Scott of Adamsville, TN, Taylor Haubrich and wife Kaleigh of Michie, TN, Bethany Brown,Macy Brown, and Isabella Brown all of Michie, TN; seven great great grandchildren, Kenlee Haubrich and Sophie Haubrich both of Michie, TN, Patrick Cagle and Wally Cagle both of Lexington, TN, Cason Montgomery and Eden Montgomery both of Chewalla, TN, and Harper Smith of Corinth, MS; and a sister, Polly Hair of Clarksdale, MS.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs York was preceded in death by a son, Greg York; a son-in-law, Ray Brown; four brothers, Houston Dendy, Ruston Dendy, Denver Dendy, and JL Dendy; three sisters, Laura Hamlin, Fanny Henson and Bessie Dendy.