Kathy Vail

Kathy House Vail, 71, of Cumming passed away unexpectedly in Knoxville, Tennessee on October 24, 2021. She was on vacation in Pigeon Forge with a dear friend when she suffered a massive brain bleed and was unable to recover.

Kathy was born on November 16, 1949, in Birmingham, Alabama to Leeroy and Eva House. She and William Curtis Vail married in 1967. Kathy graduated from the University of Alabama Birmingham shortly thereafter and became a passionate and dedicated high school social studies educator for thirty-eight years. She started teaching at KJ Clark in Chickasaw, Alabama but spent most her career at Forsyth County High and North Forsyth High in Cumming, Georgia.

She was currently enjoying her retirement years and was actively involved in her church, Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, the Forsyth County Retired Educators Association, and Senior Enriched Living (SEL). She was also an avid reader and loved teaching, learning, and the study of law and politics.

Kathy’s focus and life purpose was to love God and others. Her greatest joy was spending time with grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her life was about serving and investing in people. She was amazingly thoughtful and caring. Her light, smile and example shined brightly for Jesus.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leeroy and Eva House, and her husband, William C. Vail.

Kathy was a wonderful, loving mother and grandmother.  She is survived by her son Andy Vail and his wife Stacy; daughter Wendy Harvey and her husband Davis; grandchildren Melanie, Alex, Luke, and Jude; and great grandchildren Sadie and Emma. She also had two dogs she loved very much, Gracie and Brody.

A small graveside service is planned at Georgia National Cemetery on Thursday, October 28th at 10AM, where she will be laid to rest with her husband, William C. Vail. The family will also hold a Celebration of Life the weekend of November 13-14. Details will be shared by the family.

In lieu of flowers, Kathy asked that donations be made to the Atlanta Humane Society and the Atlanta Mission. Both were organizations that she loved dearly.

Canton Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Kathy Vail.