George Mccaleb

Mr. George Shepherd McCaleb "Shep," age 83 of Hoover passed away July 4, 2012. He was from Cleveland, MS, but he had made Birmingham his home for the last 55 years. Shep was small of frame but "big of heart." He graduated from Cleveland High School and from Delta State University. Shep received his Masters degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Arkansas. He retired after 33 years as a research chemist from Southern Research Institute in Birmingham. He was an over-achiever in everything that he did. During his years at Southern Research, he synthesized 4 cancer compounds that crossed the brain barrier and were applied in clinical use for brain cancer. Shep was an outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish, particularly bass fishing. He was a Lifetime Member of the Concordia Social Club. His greatest love was ballroom dancing with his loving wife, Ann. He was a member of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Hoover. Shep and his wife had recently moved to Town Village Retirement Independent Living in Vestavia. He is preceded in death by his son, David McCaleb. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Ann Peacock McCaleb; 2 sons, Karl McCaleb (Linda) and Bart Burford (Leslie); 4 daughters, Lesa McCaleb, Ann Lott (Preston), Linda Farr (Craig), and Beth Reynolds (Robert); 11 grandchildren, Leah Lott, Alys Lott, Karlyn McCaleb, Katie Lott, Davis McCaleb, Will Farr, Ashley Padgett (David), Taylor Burford, Kyle Reynolds (Melanie), Kristen Reynolds, and Russell Reynolds; 2 great grandchildren (and one on the way); a brother, Jim Hunter McCaleb (Pat); and daughter-in-law, Beth Askew-McCaleb. The family will receive friends from 1-2 PM, Saturday, July 7, 2012, at Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home, HWY 150 in Hoover. Funeral service will follow at 2 PM in the funeral home chapel, Pastor Steve West officiating. Interment will be in Jefferson Memorial Gardens, South. The family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society. The family would like to communicate a special thanks to Brookwood Medical Center, doctors and nurses. Also, a very special thanks to Town Village for a 'wonderful' last nine months of his life.