Kathy Smoot Kemezis

Kathy Smoot Kemezis, age 71, a McMinnville, TN resident and Warren County, TN native died October 18, 2016 at her residence following a brief illness. Her career as photo journalist took her all over the world most notably Kenya, Cuba, France and Germany; her photos ran in the International Herald Tribune, Washington Star, and the Chattanooga Times as well as industry-specific publications. She worked as a Washington correspondent for the Chattanooga Times covering Congress, it was during this time in the Senate Press Gallery that she met the love of her life and future husband, Paul Kemezis. Her education included Mary Baldwin College and the University of Tennessee with training at the Maine Photographic Workshop in Rockport, ME. Mrs. Kemezis was a beloved member of the Middle Tennessee equestrian community with close ties to Brownland Farm in Franklin, TN where she boarded her horses and competed in hunter jumper horse shows. Her love of nature extended beyond animals; she enjoyed gardening and maintaining her property to serve as a wildlife habitat. She was an active member of the McMinnville Garden Club. She was a member of the Methodist Church and daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. B.C. Smoot. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband, Paul Daniel Kemezis; son, Devin Galligan; and brother, Campbell Smoot, Jr. Mrs. Kemezis is survived by two daughters and son-in-law, Katie Walker Kemezis and Geoffrey Bent of Seattle, WA and Amelia Temple Kemezis of New York City; two grandchildren, Zak Galligan and Alex Galligan both of Lebanon, TN; and daughter-in-law, Kristi Galligan of Lebanon. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, October 23, 2016 at the Kemezis Residence on 413 Morrison St., McMinnville, TN 37110 with Paul Roberts to officiate. Interment will follow in Mt. View Cemetery. Visitation will be 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Outreach Building.