Southeastern schools mourn loss of Kimsey

CHILLICOTHE – From the outside, it appeared to be a normal day at Southeastern schools. Bells still rang, and students shuffled from one classroom to the next.

But Monday was not a normal day. The news trickled from faculty and staff to students, and a more somber mood fell over the campus as the word spread that middle school teacher Doug Kimsey had died.

“He did everything,” said Aaron Skeens, a sixth-grade science teacher who worked closely with Kimsey at Southeastern for the past 10 years.

Kimsey died Sunday afternoon. Despite being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in November, the man known as the “Voice of the Panthers” continued his work at the school until January.

Mark Carroll was another teacher who worked closely with Kimsey. Carroll said he “respected (Kimsey) a lot for teaching” after the diagnosis. “I couldn’t have handled it that well,” he said.

“Teachers, parents and kids loved him,” said Brian Justice, district superintendent. “He got to know all the students very well.”

Known for his generosity, he and his family sponsored a family for Christmas for many years, but Middle School Principal Zack Pfeifer recalled a story when the teacher gave one of his old cars to a former student.

“Doug found a common interest in everyone he met,” Pfeifer said. “He would find out what you were interested, in and he could share a common interest as well. ... He could talk about anything.”

Pfeifer had known Kimsey since Kimsey’s career at Southeastern as an intervention specialist began in 2002. Since then, they spent six years working closely together.

“He always loved sports and being around kids, so when he had the opportunity to change his career and go into education, he was so grateful that Southeastern gave him that chance,” Justice said.

“He loved baseball, without a doubt that was his number one love,” Justice continued. “He used to always email out to everyone a prediction on the (Cincinnati) Reds. I know, this year, he did not send that out, so I knew he was more sick than what he wanted to say.”

Kimsey, who before becoming a teacher was a journalist for more than 20 years, including a stint with The Gazette, also was heavily involved with the Chillicothe Paints baseball team.

He also was a Navy veteran, who served in Operation Enduring Freedom and retired in 2011

“We’re heartbroken, I mean, the entire organization,” said Bryan Wickline, vice president and general manager of the Paints from 1994 to 2014. Kimsey was “part of the fabric at Paints baseball,” he said.

But the baseball diamond was not the only facility at which Kimsey could be found working.

“Anywhere we needed him to be an announcer, he was willing to help us out,” Justice said.

As a result, he spent many hours announcing baseball and basketball games.

“The best quote I could ever say about an individual, once you get to know them a little bit personally, as far as professionally is, he was probably the most respected teacher in the middle school. People liked him,” Justice said.

“He was an all-in-all cheerleader of everything and everybody. He was very proud of Southeastern,” Pfeifer said.

Services

Calling hours for Doug Kimsey will be observed from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday at Ware Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday.