Gordon Kenneth Napper, 62, a native of Chickasaw, and a resident of Spanish Fort, died at a local hospital on April 1, 2009 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of South Alabama. He began his teaching and coaching career in 1969. He coached football, basketball, and baseball in Covington and Mobile counties and was the head football coach at Fruitdale High School in Washington County.
He entered the real estate management profession in 1979 with the Mitchell Company where he was vice president of Real Estate Management. In 1999, he formed Gulfbelt Properties, a property management and real estate company. He served on the Board of Directors and as state president of SAHMA, the Southeastern Affordable Housing Management Association. He was a longtime member of the Mobile Area Association of Realtors and the Mobile Area Apartment Association where he served on various committees.
He served as a councilman for the City of Chickasaw and was a member of the Chickasaw Housing Authority. He also coached Dixie Youth Baseball, served as a scout leader, taught swimming and lifesaving, and was an active member of the Chickasaw United Methodist Church.
He was a wonderful writer and an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt, fish and enjoyed sports. Mr. Napper was president of the Bigbee Hunting Club for 18 years and a member of The Alabama Treasure Forest Association, and Alabama Wild Turkey Federation. He was a wonderful husband and father who left a legacy of faith, love and devotion to his family and all who knew him. He treated everyone with whom he came in contact with respect and kindness.
He was a devoted Christian and a Charter member of the Providence United Methodist Church where he served on the Building Committee, the Finance Committee and was an usher. He founded and served as President of the Providence United Methodist Church Men’s Club. He also organized the men’s softball team.
He was preceded in death by his father Kinnie Napper, mother, Luella Dykes Napper, father-in-law, Glasgow Stewart Stanford, infant daughter Leah Ann Napper.
Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Mary Ann Stanford Napper of Spanish Fort; two sons, Jacob Tyler Napper of Mobile and John Michael Napper of Daphne; daughter, Mandie Napper (Darryl) Kinsey of Daphne; two precious granddaughters, Anna Claire and Sarah Beth Kinsey; sister, Gwen Napper (Robert) Dean; mother-in-law, Mary Couey (Clent) Shumack, and brother-in-law, Phillip (Janette) Stanford; three nieces, Tiffany Dean Dumas, Kiri Stanford McFarland and Aleigh Stanford; and two nephews, Terry Dean and Christopher Stanford.
Visitation will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 3 at Providence United Methodist Church, 32200 Jimmy Faulkner Drive, Spanish Fort. Funeral services will be held at noon Saturday, April 4 at the church. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, Celeste Road, Saraland.
Active pallbearers will be Jack Woodson, Duke Coate, Richard Thames, Phillip Stanford, Ronnie Johnson, and Randy Davis. Honorary pallbearers are the Providence United Methodist Church Men’s Club.
The family requests memorial donations be made to Gordon K. Napper Memorial Fund at Providence United Methodist Church.
Arrangements are by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., Daphne.
