Born on June 23, 1942 in Yellow Jacket, Colorado, she was the daughter of Marcille Yates and the late Lowell Russell Campbell. After graduating from Montezuma County High School, Dee attended Colorado State Teacher’s College in Greeley and met Roger, who was stationed at the nearby Air Force base in Cheyenne, WY. When he returned to SC after his service, she left school and everyone she knew to join him. They were married 55 years. Dee completed her Bachelor’s Degree and later earned a Master’s Degree at the University of South Carolina. She was an art teacher in Newberry County, first traveling to the elementary schools throughout the county on a rotating basis and later teaching for many years at Mid-Carolina Junior High and Mid-Carolina High School. She was a member of St. Mark United Methodist Church in Columbia and was active in the Betty Gleaton Circle. She greatly enjoyed helping young students at Logan Elementary School in Columbia learn to read and would bring them treat bags on holidays. Dee also enjoyed yearly camping trips to Surfside Beach with a great group of friends, researching family history, attending Highland Games, visits home to Colorado, and being a grandmother.
Dee is survived by her mother and her sister, Joyce Campbell Turner, both of Cortez, CO; her husband, James Roger Connelly; a daughter, Kimberly (Mark) Benjamin of Moon Township, PA; a son, Kyle Connelly of Charleston, SC; and a granddaughter, Riley Mae Benjamin.
Visitation will be from 6:00 - 8:00 pm on Friday, August 31, 2018 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Chapin Chapel. Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 1, 2018 at St. Mark United Methodist Church in Columbia, SC. Interment will follow at Bush River Memorial Gardens, Irmo, SC. Memorials may be sent to St. Mark United Methodist Church, 3200 Lyles Street, Columbia, SC 29201.
Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Chapin Chapel, is assisting the family with arrangements. Please sign the online guestbook at www.caughmanchapin.com.
