Kaysie Dawn Deaton Clement – Obituary

by Lynn McMillen
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Kaysie Dawn Deaton Clement died Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018. She was born Sept. 12, 1948, in Belmont, Mississippi to the late Otha Casey Deaton and Willie Yarber Deaton McNiece and died peacefully surrounded by her kin. Dawn or “Kaysie,” as she was called by her siblings, graduated from Belmont High School in 1966 and matriculated at Mississippi State University. After her freshman year, she married Bill Dodd, a fellow student. They left school, but Dawn would later finish her bachelor’s degree at Colorado Christian University.

In their first six years of marriage, Bill and Dawn had two children, Kaysie and Patton. For several years they raised them in Jackson, Tennessee, then began to move around the country— first to Huntsville, Alabama, then to Vallejo, California, then to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Dawn was a working mom in those years serving as an office administrator and improving the environment of everywhere she worked. Coworkers from various jobs remained dear friends, because friendship with Dawn was something to cherish for a lifetime.

Dawn was famous to all who knew her. Friendship, love, faith — these were her areas of expertise and will be her legacy. Her friends and family depended on her wisdom, her intimate knowledge of the Bible, her unfailing thoughtfulness, her wit and wisdom, her easy laughter, and her devotion to prayer. Unassuming and quiet within, Dawn was yet a powerful presence, a force of joy and love. After Dawn left the South in 1985, she spent over 20 years longing to return. On a visit home in 2006, she ran into Jack Clement, who had lost his wife eight years prior. For a second time, Dawn and Jack fell in love. In 2007, Dawn had returned to the South, and she and Jack were married in 2010. Though she battled against cancer starting in 2008, for Dawn these years were full of abundance — a loving, life-giving marriage, regular visits to children and grandchildren across the country, rich relationships with Jack’s kids and grandkids, proximity to her siblings, cousins, and childhood friends, and of course, a bounty of new friendships.

Services will be Sunday, Feb. 18, 3 p.m., at Deaton Funeral Home Chapel, Belmont, Mississippi with Mark Steele officiating. Burial will be in Belmont City Cemetery, Belmont, Mississippi. Deaton Funeral Home, Belmont, Mississippi, will be in charge of arrangements.

She is survived by her husband of nearly eight years, Jack Clement, her high school sweetheart and the true love of her life. Along with her husband, Dawn leaves behind two grateful children, Kaysie Steele and husband, Mark Steele, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Patton Dodd and wife, Michaela Dodd, of San Antonio, Texas; two stepchildren, Carter Clement and wife, Hannah Clement, of Florence, Alabama, and Molly McLemore and husband, Gerald McLemore Jr., of Jackson, Mississippi; three adoring siblings, Karen Allen and husband, Jerry Allen, of Tupelo, Mississippi, Mike Deaton and wife, Allison Deaton, of Golden, Mississippi, and Beth Erwin and husband, Richard Erwin, of Birmingham, Alabama. Dawn’s ten beloved grandchildren, who called her “Mamu” and cherished her are Morgan Heath and husband, Baylor Heath, Jackson, Charlie and David Steele, Bel, Henry and Louisa Dodd and Stella Kate, Mae Walker and Clara Margaret McLemore.

Pallbearers will be Jackson Steele, Baylor Heath, Charlie Steele, Henry Dodd, and Carter Clement.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Help Center, 621 S. Court St., Florence, AL 35630, phone 256-766-7663.

Visitation will be Sunday, Feb. 18, 1-3 p.m., at Deaton Funeral Home, Belmont, Mississippi.

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