Gayle Kesinger died January 20, at the age of 84.  She was the daughter of Dorothy Leone Doub Mattingly and The Reverend Dr. Thomas Jasper Mattingly.  After graduating from Central High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, she attended Transylvania College in Lexington, Kentucky and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where she was a member of the Chi Omega fraternity.  Pursuing her love of all things medical, she graduated from St. Joseph’s Hospital, Houston, Texas from the School for Medical Record Librarians later know as Health Information Management. 

Her career started in Houston, Texas at M. D. Anderson Hospital.  After passing the national registry exam for Health Information Management, she became the Director of Medical Records at Pasadena General Hospital at the young age of 21.  She moved on following her career to Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lansing, Michigan and finally trying to get away from cold and snow, moved to Dallas, Texas to Methodist Hospital and finally to Parkland Memorial Hospital, retiring in 2000.

Close to her heart, however, was St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church.  Her service to the Church included Vestry membership, leadership roles in the Altar Guild where she served as Directress, Wedding Coordinator for ten year, Flower Memorial Chair; and Assistant to the Women of Saint Michael Gifts Committee Chair for 10 years as well as many other volunteer activities.

She was a member of the Front Row Center Review Club where she served in several roles, the last of which was the Communications and Yearbook Chair.  

Kesinger was a longtime diocesan volunteer serving as Vice-Chairperson for the diocesan annual convention for 9 years, and on the Bishop Transition Committee. 

She is survived by her daughter, Wendy Matter (Larry) of Morgan Hill, California, two granddaughters, Claire and Christi Miller of Denver, Colorado, her brother, Tom Mattingly (Susan) of Knoxville, Tennessee and five nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved son, John Christian Kesinger and her wonderful sister, Betsy Mattingly Seale of Greensboro, N. C.

“I shall pass through this world but once.  Any good thing, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show any human being, let me do it now.  Let me not defer nor neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.”  A quote by Stephen Grellet, my motto which I tried to live by.