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Submitted: 10/21/20 • Approved: 11/27/20 • Last Updated: 11/30/20 • R1345249-G1274389-S3
Paul 21 Jun 1937 - 12 Jul 2020
Katherine 14 Feb 1940 - 16 Nov 2017
Marriage: 01 Nov 1959
Paul William Lee last living child of Henry S Lee and Grace (Buttstead) Lee. Katherine Ann (Sellers) Lee daughter of Lewis Felton “Fat” Sellers and Josie Wilma (Spivey) Sellers.
Please see veteran monument for further information.
**obituary
June 21, 1937 - July 12, 2020
Paul William Lee, 83, of Melbourne, Arkansas, returned to his heavenly home on July 12, 2020. After a long illness, he left this world in peace. He was looking forward to being in the presence of our Lord and being reunited with the love of his life, Katherine Ann (Sellers) Lee.
He was the last living child of Henry S. and Grace (Buttstead) Lee. Born in Brattleboro, Vermont, on June 21, 1937, he and his six brothers and one sister lived and worked on the family farm in Guilford, Vermont. Paul graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1956 and immediately joined the United States Air Force. He lived a life of service and loved his God, Country, Family, Community, Church and many dear friends.
Paul retired from the Air Force in 1976 with twenty years of distinguished service, achieving the rank of Senior Master Sergeant ahead of his peers. He was called to serve around the world, including six months in Libya, 18 months in Turkey, and many of our beautiful states across this great country. He is a proud Vietnam Veteran and loved military aircraft, especially his beloved F-5. Following his military service, he relocated his family to Shaw, Mississippi, his wife’s hometown. He worked at Baxter International and as a United States Postal Service mail carrier while completing a Business degree from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi. He became a Production Manager at a leading tool manufacturer in Greenville, Mississippi, and certified as a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning technician before moving to Batesville, Arkansas, in 1985. While in Batesville, he became certified as a Real Estate Broker. However, Paul felt most fulfilled and blessed while serving our Armed Forces Veterans for fifteen years as a Veterans Service Representative, where he retired from the State of Arkansas in 1999. In preparation for their retirement, Paul and Katherine built their dream home in the beautiful and quiet community of Melbourne, Arkansas, where they spent the happiest years of their lives together and built many treasured friendships.
Paul was a man of strong faith and commitment to God. He served many years as a Deacon at Rehoboth Baptist Church in Batesville, Arkansas, then at Midway Baptist Church in Melbourne. He was so honored to be elected as a Chaplain at the American Legion Post 81, a Chaplain at the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4687, and as Chaplain of American Legion District 3.
Paul is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Grace, and his six brothers, Erwin, Kenneth, Howard, David, Brian, Peter, and one sister, Judy. His beautiful wife, Katherine, whom he married November 1, 1959, has been waiting on his arrival in heaven since November 16, 2017. He leaves behind his three children: Terri Stampf (Frank) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Danny Lee (Heidi) of Jacksonville, Florida, and Patti Smith (Eric) of Melbourne, Arkansas, six grandchildren: Zachary Watkins (Caitlyn) of Morgan Hill, California, Benjamin Lee of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Rebecca Lee (Roberto Rosario) of Jacksonville, Florida, and Hunter Smith, Erica Smith and Bailey Smith all of Melbourne, Arkansas, one great-granddaughter: Olivia Lee Watkins of Morgan Hill, California, and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation and funeral service will be held Thursday, July 16 at 10:00 a.m. at Eddie’s Family Funeral in Melbourne, Arkansas, under the direction of Eddie’s Family Funeral Home. Paul will be buried at Combs Cemetery in Melbourne.
Pallbearers: Bill Stevens, Richard Penn, Garry Barrows, Jimmy Booth, John Rogers, and Chris Newsom.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for Brockwell Gospel Music School, P.O. Box 28, Brockwell, AR 72577.
Obituary located through Eddie’s Family Funeral Home Melbourne, Izard County, Arkansas. © Copyright 2012-2019 Eddie's Family Funeral Home. All Rights Reserved.
And that of his wife,
Katherine Ann Sellers Lee of Melbourne, Arkansas
Katherine Ann Sellers Lee, daughter of the late Lewis Felton “Fat” Sellers and Josie Wilma Spivey Sellers, was born February 14, 1940 in Shaw, Mississippi. She departed this life November 16, 2017 in Calico Rock, Arkansas at the age of 77 years, 9 months 2 days. She graduated from Shaw High School and later attended Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi. She was united in marriage to Paul William Lee on November 1, 1959 and together they raised three children. She spent her life as a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker and friend. She traveled extensively with her husband and family on his military assignments. She worked as a libriarian and a variety store manager in her hometown of Shaw, Mississippi. She retired from Walmart and volunteered at the Manna House in Melbourne, Arkansas. She was of the Baptist faith and an active member of Midway Baptist Church in Melbourne.
She is survived by two daughters and two sons-in-law: Terri Ann and Frank Stampf of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Patti and Eric Smith of Melbourne; one son and daughter-in-law: Danny and Heidi of Jacksonville, North Carolina; two brothers: Willie Sellers and Lewis Sellers both of Shaw, Mississippi; two sisters: Evelyn Fuxa of Ft. Lupton, Colorado and Mary Coker of Clinton, Mississippi; six grandchildren: Zach Watkins and wife Caitlyn, Ben Lee, Rebecca Lee, Hunter Smith, Erica Smith and Bailey Smith and a host of other relatives and many good friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation will be Monday, November 20 from 6-8 p.m. at Eddie’s Family Funeral Home in Melbourne. Funeral service will be Tuesday, November 21 at 2:00 p.m. at Howard Memorial Funeral Chapel with Gene Baird officiating. Burial will be at Combs Cemetery.
Obituary located through Eddie’s Family Funeral Home Melbourne, Izard County, Arkansas. © Copyright 2012 - 19 Eddie's Family Funeral Home. All Rights Reserved.
Contributed on 10/21/20 by sandhollow
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Record #: 1345249