After a long and courageous battle with cancer, Christopher Greene Gattis passed peacefully from the loving arms of his family and friends into the arms of his Heavenly Father. Chris was born in Huntsville as the first son to Jerry and Carlotta (Steele) Gattis. He spent his cherished childhood in Huntsville, of which he wrote fondly in his book, Carcoats & A Broken Nose.
A 1979 alumni of Butler High School, Chris graduated in 1983 from Auburn University with a Finance degree, which he utilized for the remainder of his working life. For 20 years, Chris worked in various management capacities for Knauf Corporation at facilities in Lanett, AL, Shelbyville, IN and Lebanon, OH. He spent six years in the Boston Massachusetts area where he served as Chief Financial Officer for General Insulation Company. In 2008 Chris returned to his hometown where he later joined the advertising and marketing firm, Ad4! Group as Managing Partner. During this same time, Chris was Partner and Chief Strategist for Blue Point Strategies, a firm in which he coached varied clients in business planning and formulation, as well as real estate analysis and development. In conjunction with his Blue Point consulting, Chris published numerous professional books dealing with the challenges of marketing and business development.
Ever civic minded and giving, Chris was involved in the Chambers of Commerce of the various communities he found himself living in, served on several municipal zoning and planning commissions, United Way campaigns, and enthusiastically taught Junior Achievement classes. Additionally, he was involved with Scouting as both a Cubmaster and Scoutmaster. Chris was an avid blogger, frequently posting business advice, social media planning, and spiritual wellness. Later in his life, Chris devoted many volunteer hours to the Cancer Societies of Huntsville, Atlanta, and the Mid-South Division of Birmingham, serving tirelessly on their Boards of Directors. He was a volunteer “Hero of Hope” speaker as well. To honor Chris’ passion to alleviate cancer and his faithful witness to his family and friends as he battled the disease, a “sockinit2cancer” page was set up on Facebook to remind Chris daily he was not alone in his fight. He literally received hundreds of pairs of socks and daily messages over the last months from cherished well-wishers. A “sockinit2cancer” foundation is in the process of being set up by his family to raise awareness and promote research of prostate cancer.
As an accomplished and giving musician, Chris found great joy playing the saxophone in support of the Trinitarian Church Neighborhood Theater and other local theatres of North Andover, MA, as well as in his beloved church orchestra, at First Baptist Huntsville, where he was also a faithful disciple, member, Sunday School Teacher and volunteer.
Chris is survived by his loving wife Ann (Leavitt) Gattis, his parents Jerry and Carlotta, brother Jeff (Kelley), all of Huntsville; brother Thomas (Kim) of Columbus, OH, stepson Andrew (Andy) Myers, of Indianapolis, IN, stepdaughter Aimee (Jeremy) Tillison, of Shelbyville, IN, and various cherished grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, all of whom cared for Chris lovingly in his final days. He was preceded in death by a stepson, Stephen Kees.
Visitation will be on Thursday, July 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Huntsville, 600 Governors Drive, 35801, with a memorial service immediately following at 1:00 p.m.
Memorial contributions in honor and memory of Christopher G. Gattis may be directed to the American Cancer Society or First Baptist Church (designated to Orchestra).
