Gene Lee

Lowell Eugene “Gene” Lee, son of Robert C. Lee and Gladys M. (Pool) Lee was born January 11, 1936, in rural Douglas County, near Ava, Missouri, and departed this life July 26, 2023, at his home in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of 87 years, 6 months, and 15 days.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Diana Lee, his parents, brothers, Bobby Lee and Merle Lee, and sisters, Lola Minnie Lafferty and Katherine Bunker.

Gene is survived by his wife, Nancy; sons, Donnie Lee and Rick Lee and wife, Sandy; daughters, Pam Ragon and husband, Garth, Rita Chapman and husband, Tony, Debbie Walker and husband, Kenny, Loretta Cameron and husband, Joe, and Lisa Cooper; brothers, Jimmie Lee and wife, Wanda and Ronnie Lee; sisters, Lizzie French, Fredia Musgrave, Leta Cornelison, DeLois Johnston, and Geneva McCullough and husband, Roger; 107 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; many other family members and a host of friends.

Gene grew up on the family farm, milking cows, plowing fields with horses, and cutting wood for the meat packing plants with his brother, Bobby, and he also worked at sawmills. There were 12 children in the Lee family, and they worked together growing up. Gene attended a one room schoolhouse through the 6th grade.

In 1956, at the age of 20, Gene moved to California with his Aunt Elizabeth Coffey. He always wanted to go to California to find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. However, he found something better, his wife, Nancy Holderman. They met in January 1957 and had their first date at the beach in February where he proposed marriage. They were married August 9, 1957, and at the time of his death, Gene and Nancy had been married for 65 years, 11 months, and 14 days.

He had several businesses throughout their marriage, from dairy farming for 33 years, owning a sawmill and lumber business, and semi-trucks hauling hay and grain. Gene was a hard worker and a good provider for his family and loved being a “Matchmaker”.

Gene made a profession of faith in Christ many years ago and was a member of the Oak Grove Assembly of God Church.

Gene loved his family, and his greatest desire was that ALL would join him in heaven someday.