Memorials › Arthur Lee

Arthur Lee

22 Nov 1919 – 5 May 2013

Birth22 Nov 1919
Death5 May 2013
CemeteryTexas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene
Abilene , Jones County , Texas , USA
Added byDennis Alan Deel on 02 Nov 2024
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110087782

Bio

Arthur Lee, 93, of Clyde, Texas passed from his earthly life on May 5, 2013 after a brief acute illness. He was born November 22, 1919 on the family farmstead, the fifth child and second son of Andrew and Annie Ramsfield Lee. His parents married in Kalispell, Montana where Andrew Lee had gone to homestead; but they later resettled in the Mayville, North Dakota area near other family members. Of proud Norwegian descent, Arthur entered grade school speaking only Norwegian, but soon learned English. However, he never lost his Norse accent and entertained the family and his grandchildren by singing bits of songs in Norwegian. He was confirmed in 1933 at Bethany Lutheran Church located near the family farm. His confirmation class photograph still hangs in the basement/fellowship area of the little white church, along with photos of all the confirmands from Bethany. The church has a viable congregation and Arthur, along with his wife, children and most of his siblings worshipped together in the church when last he visited Mayville in 2008. The Lee family donated a part of their farmland to the Bethany church for the congregation's cemetery; many Lee ancestors and relatives are buried there. Mr. Lee was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Albany, Texas. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps and then entered the Army in Hillsboro, North Dakota in spring of 1942. His first assignment was Camp Barkeley in Abilene, Texas. He arrived on a train at the Butterfield Junction in the middle of a West Texas dust storm and thought he had been sent to the end of the earth. However, things began to look a lot better when, on a pass into town, he met young Evelyn Beatrice Wilson working in the soda fountain at a local downtown drug store. The couple recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary, on April 13. He was sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana and then to Blythe, California following his Camp Barkeley hitch. Finally, he and his young bride were New Jersey-bound, shortly before Arthur shipped overseas to the European theater of World War II. Mr. Lee served in 90th Division and landed D-Day+2 in Normandy, then on through Northern France, the Ardennes, Rhineland and Belgium. He also served in England, and greatly respected General Omar Bradley, and served Gen. Bradley as the driver of his Jeep. Following WWII, Arthur returned to Abilene and his bride. After hitches in the swamps of Louisiana, the burning desert of California and the frozen forests of Europe, Abilene looked really good! He made it look even better with new houses for returning GIs and their brides. He retired as a well known custom cabinet builder/contractor in the Abilene/Clyde/Brownwood area. Arthur Lee is survived by his wife Evelyn and two children, Debbie Lee Nance (and husband John) of Rowlett, Texas and Ronnie (and wife Elaine) Lee of Clyde. He was the proud grandfather of Amanda Lee and Kris Nance, both of Dallas, and Chandra Nance Gregory of Rowlett. Lucas and Kyle Gregory, also of Rowlett, are great-grandchildren. Mr. Lee is predeceased by his parents, brothers Harold and infant Kenneth, and sisters Sofia Lee Haakenson, Olivia Lee Stenberg Nelson, Mildred Lee Strand. He is survived by his brother Abner and wife Loraine Lee of Minot, N.D and sisters Inez Lee Boyer and husband Dave of Sun City, AZ and Clarice Lee Kennedy of Grand Forks, ND. Numerous relatives still reside in the Mayville/Portland area, including sisters Alice Lee Strand, Margaret Lee Heskins Lande, and Dorothy Lee Bjerke Grage. Numerous nieces and nephews also reside in and around the Mayville/Portland area. Suggested memorials are his hometown church Hatton/rural Bethany Lutheran Church, Attn: Don Condit, Contact Person; Hatton, North Dakota 58240 and Trinity Lutheran Church, attn: Pastor Tom Chandler, P O Box 2255, Albany, TX 76430. The family sincerely thanks the caregivers for Mr. Lee, and most recently the nurses and staff of the Hendrick Hospice floor. Arrangements are through Bailey-Howard Funeral Home of Clyde, TX. Visitation is Monday, from 6:00 - 7:30 at the funeral home. Services will be Tuesday, May 9, 2013, at 11:00 a.m., Clyde First United Methodist Church, with Pastor Tom Chandler of Trinity Lutheran Church of Albany, officiant. Burial will follow in the Texas Veteran's Cemetery at 2:00 p.m., FM 600 North, Abilene, TX. Online condolences may be made at www.baileyhowardfuneralhome.com

Inscription

PFC US ARMY WORLD WAR II GENTLE HEART & HELPING HANDS

Photos

Family

Parents

Spouse

Siblings

Export GEDCOM

This person only · Entire connected family