Leroy Daily Gist

Leroy Daily Gist passed away August 25, 2014. He was born on September 24, 1931, to Roy D. and Ola Jacobs Gist at their home on Scott Street in Scottsboro. He graduated from Scottsboro High School in 1950 and married his high school sweetheart, Irene Machen, soon after graduation. He was one of 167 young men from Scottsboro who served our country in Korea as a member of Company B of the 151st Engineer Combat Battalion. After returning from Korea, Mr. Gist attended the University of Alabama in Huntsville for two years before he and his wife enrolled in The Winona School of Photography. In 1953, Mr. and Mrs. Gist took over his father’s photography business that had opened in Scottsboro in 1928. Gist Studio remained in business until late-2002. Mr. Gist became a Certified Member of the National Photographers’ Association and received numerous awards for his work. He was the first professional photographer to be awarded “Best in Show” two years in a row at the Professional Photographers of Mississippi and Alabama, Inc., annual convention. Mr. Gist cherished the opportunities he was given to photograph many special people and events. Much of the history of Scottsboro and the surrounding area is preserved in photographs made and shared by him. Mr. Gist was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1953. As a Representative, he worked to get a bridge constructed across the Tennessee River and to secure the Skyline Refuge Area for Jackson County. Mr. Gist also served as a Board Member and/or Board Chairman for several organizations including the Board of Directors for the Jackson County Park, Scottsboro Public Library, Scottsboro Jackson Heritage Center, United Givers’ Fund, Scottsboro Electric Power Board, and the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. As a member and deacon of the Broad Church of Christ, Mr. Gist led the way for the church to become involved in several areas of outreach and benevolence. In addition to his parents, Mr. Gist was preceded in death by two sisters, Lois Jean Foster and Opal Chandler. He is survived by his wife, Irene Machen Gist; daughters, Lee Gist and Martha Kimbrough (Denton); grandchildren, Daily Gist (DeAnna), Andy Kimbrough (Bethany), Anna Morrow (Ben), and Allyson Young (Cole); seven great-grandchildren; sister, Eloise Broome; brother, Jerry Gist; several nieces and nephews and numerous other extended family members and friends. Visitation will be at the Broad Street Church of Christ on Thursday, August 28, from 12-2:00 P.M. with a memorial service to follow. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested for: Broad Street Church of Christ Learning Center, 613 S. Broad St., Scottsboro, AL 35768; New Beacon Hospice, 1602 S. Broad St., Scottsboro, AL 35768; Scottsboro Jackson Heritage Center, 208 S. Houston St., Scottsboro, AL 35768.