Peggy Luna Giers Lee

LHS '65

June 2, 1947 - July 29, 2003

Funeral service for, Peggy Luna Giers Lee, 76, were held Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. A. Ray Lee officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Valhermoso Springs Cemetery. 

Mrs. Lee died on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at her residence. She was born June 2, 1947, in Madison County, to Perry Franklin Luna and Jessie Irene Shields Luna.

She was employed by Huntsville Times for 28 years as an Executive Assistant, prior to her retirement. She was a loving wife, mom and Super proud Gigi. She was Baptist in her faith, a Sunday School Teacher and Youth Leader, and she volunteered at Huntsville Hospital.

Preceding her in death were two husbands: Charles Giers and Joe Dorman Lee, a step-daughter: Christy Lee Whitaker and her parents.

Survivors include, Sons - Paul Giers, James "Jimmy" A. Giers; Step-Son - Phillip Lee; Daughter - Beth Giers Jackson; Step-Daughter - Carla Lee Lester; Sister - Wanda Cantrell; Sixteen Grandchildren; and Ten Great Grandchildren.

The Wayback Machine

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

I asked The Wayback Machine to play something from 1961 and this is what came up.

"Can't Help Falling in Love" is a song recorded by American singer Elvis Presley for the album "Blue Hawaii".  The melody is based on "Plaisir d'amour", a popular French love song composed in 1784 by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini. Elvis Presley's version of the song topped the British charts in 1962, spending four weeks at No. 1. The single was certified Platinum by the RIAA, for US sales in excess of one million copies. In the United States, the song peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 behind Joey Dee and the Starliters' "Peppermint Twist" and went to No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for six weeks.

"Can't Help Falling in Love" was also the last song he performed live, at his concert in Indianapolis at Market Square Arena on June 26, 1977.

"Can't Help Falling in Love" was featured on "The Blue Hawaii" album which was released on RCA Victor Records in mono and stereo, on October 20, 1961. It is the soundtrack to the 1961 film of the same name starring Elvis Presley. In the United States, the album spent 20 weeks in the number-one slot and 39 weeks in the Top 10 on Billboard's Top Pop LPs chart. It was certified Gold on December 21, 1961, Platinum and 2× Platinum on March 27, 1992, and 3× Platinum on July 30, 2002. On the US Top Pop Albums chart, Blue Hawaii is second only to the soundtrack of West Side Story as the most successful soundtrack album of the 1960s.

Side one

1. "Blue Hawaii"

2. "Almost Always True"

3. "Aloha 'Oe"

4. "No More"

5. "Can't Help Falling in Love"

6. "Rock-A-Hula Baby"

7. "Moonlight Swim"

Side two

1. "Ku-U-I-Po"

2. "Ito Eats"

3. "Slicin' Sand"

4. "Hawaiian Sunset"

5. "Beach Boy Blues"

6. "Island of Love"

7. "Hawaiian Wedding Song"

(Editor's Comments: In 1961 I was dating and found this album to contained some of the most romantic songs to listen to, which were broken up with fast, sometimes irritating, songs as well. Noting gets you out of the mood of listening to "Can't Help Falling in Love" like "Rock-A-Hulu Baby" blaring in on the next track. If you ever listened to this album you will recognize for yourself the songs which break the mood. I found when I was a DJ and playing for parties while I was in the Air Force, "Can't Help Falling in Love" would immediately fill the dancefloor with slow dancers who wanted to hold and be held close by someone of the opposite sex. I always found it odd that he sang it to a grandmother-aged lady rather than his sweetheart.  So, what was the most romantic album ever recorded? It was "Heavenly" by Johnny Mathis, in my opinion.)

Welcome to August in the deep South. How many reunions have we held in this type of weather in the past? Still, I would do it all again just to once again visit with our old classmates who are no longer with us. Thanks to Ann Redford for sending in the photo below of her and Beth McNabb getting to visit.   

Beth McNabb and Ann Redford - Friends since 8th grade.

Last Week's Questions, Answers, and Comments

PhillipStewart,  LHS ‘66, "Tommy, thanks for all you do!"