Leland Willis Lee, Sr. passed away last Monday (July 15). He was born on December 25, 1928 in Hereford, Texas. Leland spent his early life in Oklahoma and Texas doing ranch and farm work. He graduated from Dimmitt High School in 1947. Leland graduated from Texas Tech in 1951 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He worked with Philips Chemical Co. at Dumas, Texas for one year. He was drafted into the Army and moved to Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. After his stint in the army, he continued to work for the Army as a civilian. Leland worked on the design and development of various missile systems.
Leland Lee Sr. married in 1955 to Marie Wynn and had two sons: Lel and Lee, Jr. in 1956 and David Lee in 1959. Leland Lee Sr. retired from the government in 1983. Leland was hired by COLSA Corp and worked there for ten years running tests on various military hardware. He was a member of Whitesburg Baptist Church and was a deacon. Leland was willing to do many things for the church and was active in middle school ministry, benevolence & evangelism.
Leland W. Lee was preceded in death by his mother, Irene Willis Lee, his father, Leland Clarence Lee, a sister Carolyn Joyce Copeland, and his wife Marie Wynn Lee. He is survived by a sister Nancy Upton, and his sons: Leland Lee, Jr. & David Lee. He loved his family and they loved (and will love) him.
Visitation will be 10-11 AM and the funeral will be held at 11 AM on Tuesday, July 23rd at Whitesburg Baptist Church Chapel. There will be a graveside service at 2:30 PM at Nectar Cemetery (Blount County, Alabama) on the same day. The body of Leland Lee, Sr. will be buried beside his wife’s body. Berryhill Funeral Home is assisting the family.
