Gail Criss Killough, 85, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 2, 2024. A long-time resident of Huntsville, Alabama, Mrs. Killough was born on June 20, 1939, in Old Hickory Tennessee, the daughter of William L. and Geneva Estes Criss.
Growing up in Martinville, Virginia, Gail was active in school science fairs and church youth groups. She attended Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia and worked several years as an office assistant for the Virginia Mirror Company. In her early 20s she moved to Huntsville with cousins and worked at Morton Thiokol as a secretary in the defense industry offices.
Through mutual friends she met Tom Killough, and they were happily married in 1962. She was an avid painter in the 1970s and 80s and sold much of her artwork throughout the community.
While busy raising young children, Gail was also an active volunteer in the Huntsville school system and was instrumental in having cafeterias built at several elementary schools. Later she worked at Grissom High School developing the first computer lab in the school and then went on to become school Registrar until retiring in 1999.
After retirement Gail enjoyed traveling through the US and Europe with Tom and friends. She also loved the yearly family beach trip to Emerald Isle, North Carolina. She was active in First Christian Church for many years, serving as a deacon and elder multiple times.
Gail is survived by her brother, James Estes Criss; one son, Graham Killough (Theresa) of Huntsville; one daughter, Kathleen Palmer (Jeff) of Boise, Idaho; and two granddaughters, Lauren Killough of Mobile, Alabama and Sarah Palmer of Boise, Idaho. Gail was preceded in death by her parents and beloved husband of 62 years, Thomas Lloyd Killough.
A Celebration of Life and internment services are being planned for mid-December, details will be forthcoming.
The Killough/Palmer families would like to thank the staff at Redstone Village for the loving and gentle care given to their mother over the last several years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Christian Church (https://fcc-hsv.org/) or a charity of your choice in her name.
