Gary Lee

Gary Mitchell Lee was born on February 7th, 1937, to Murl and Helma (Sundahl) Lee on their farm northeast of Moorhead, Iowa. Gary moved with his family to the farm north of Woodbine when he was five years old and lived there most of his life, until he moved to Independence, Missouri in 2017.

Gary passed away December 27, 2022, in Lee Summit, Missouri surrounded by his family at the age of 85 years, 10 months, 20 days.

Gary dedicated his life to his faith, community, and family. Gary grew up on a dairy farm, attended a year at Iowa State University, but then came home to farm with his father and worked as a dairy farmer most of his life. In 1958, Gary met Earlene Straight through Earlene’s cousin and fell in love. They were married that year in the Community of Christ (RLDS) Church in Logan, Iowa on November 26, 1958.   To this union, they were blessed with five children: Michelle, Curtis, Annette, Justin, and Jarred. Gary was involved in 4-H as a member, showman, and leader. He and his father showed Milking Shorthorns at local shows as well as the Iowa State and Nebraska State Fairs. He later helped his children show cattle. He also had many roles off the farm as president of the Harrison County Farm Bureau Board, a member of the Farm Service Board, Harrison County Fair Board, Member of the National Milking Shorthorn Association, a welder, and a self-made handyman. Gary was an Elder in the Woodbine Community of Christ Church, helped build the existing building where he served as pastor for over 20 years, taught Sunday School, was a youth leader, helped farm the church farm, and many other roles through the years. He always enjoyed the fellowship with family and friends through the years. He also enjoyed flying, working on his computer, surfing the internet, and scanning photos of family and pictures he had taken.

Most of all, Gary was an active parent and grandparent who never missed the opportunity to attend any of his children and grandchildren's many sports, school, and extracurricular activities. He could always be found in the bleachers or as an audience member regardless of weather, time of day, or if the event was in Woodbine or Independence, Missouri.

Gary is remembered by family and friends for his wonderful prayers, his love of a good cup of coffee made by Earlene while watching Law and Order or Cops, listening to talk shows on the radio, his innumerable number of trips into town to take a load of grain to the elevator during harvest, and driving his John Deere 3020 over the rolling hills on the farm. He always enjoyed conversation with family and friends.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Burle Lee. He is survived by his wife, A. Earlene Lee of 64 years; children, Michelle (David) Schaal of Independence, Missouri,  Curtis (Lynnette) Lee of Woodbine, Iowa, Annette Cutler of Independence, Missouri,  Justin (Jenny) Lee of Blue Springs, Missouri, and Jarred (Joanne) Lee of Independence, Missouri; thirteen grandchildren, Jessica Schaal, Drew (Stephanie) Schaal, Carlie Merino (finance’ Jared Seeley), Nathan (Taylor) Lee, Kate (Ryan) Owens, Allison (Arthur) Khan, Kari Cutler (finance’ Alex Carpenter), Kevin (Jenna) Lee, Emma and Olivia Lee, and Austin, Avery, and Aiden Lee, along with eight great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Wilma Wagner; brother and sister-in-law, Freddie and Margaret Straight; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

He will be laid to rest at Woodbine Cemetery.

Gary Lee's Memorial Service will be available on ZOOM.

Time: Feb 11, 2023 03:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

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