Obituary: Celeste Ruth Bybee
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Celeste Ruth Bybee, 60, of Douglas, Ga., passed away on April 24, 2012 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Savannah, Ga., following a short illness.
She was born on Feb. 7, 1952, in Harrisburg to the late John Thomas Hauptmann and Ruth Mary (Kellerman) Hauptmann. On Aug. 14, 1976, Celeste Hauptmann and John Bybee were married in the First Congregational Church of Ottawa.
Celeste obtained her bachelor of science degree in journalism from Southern Illinois University in 1976 where she met her husband John. In 2004, she obtained her master's degree in early education from Valdosta University.
Celeste was an educator at Eastside Elementary School in Douglas. Photography, arts and crafts, music, reading, culinary experimentation, and Master Gardener were a few of her avid interests. Beyond these hobbies, Celeste was an active member of the St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Douglas.
Surviving family members include her husband: John Bybee of Douglas; two brothers, David Hauptmann and Gene Hauptmann of Harrisburg; two nieces, Amanda Prather of Harrisburg and Katie Prather of Marion; and two nephews: Caldwell Hauptmann of Bonita Springs, Fla. and Ronnie Hauptmann of San Diego, Calif.
Her parents and sister, Annette Prather of Harrisburg, preceded Celeste in death.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 5, 2012 at the St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Douglas, reception to follow. Officiating will be the Rev. Curtis Mears. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or the American Heart Association.
The Sims Funeral Home in Douglas, Ga., is in charge of the arrangements.