Marie E. Lee, long-time resident of Clearfield, died Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 at her daughter, Deborah’s, home in Fairview surrounded by her family.
She was born Jan. 13, 1926 in Philadelphia to Catherine Lottary and Edward J. Strom. She was raised in Oaklyn, NJ by her loving aunt and cousins.
After high school, she worked as a secretary at George Washington University Hospital, where she met her husband, Edward M. Lee. They were married June 5, 1948; in 1957, they moved to Clearfield.
She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. While raising her seven children, she was a devoted volunteer at the St. Francis School and Church.
Later, she worked as a secretary at the St. Francis School and at the practical nursing department of the Clearfield County Career & Technology Center.
Following her retirement, she, along with her husband, enjoyed traveling to visit their children and grandchildren.
They spent many winters in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., with her cousin, Audrey Boyle, as well as a lifetime of happy summers in Dewey Beach, Del., with the Padgett family.
She played golf until she was age 84 as a member of Clearfield-Curwensville Country Club. She enjoyed knitting, reading and sewing. She was also an accomplished artist.
Together with her husband, they loved to entertain family and friends, hosting many memorable gatherings.
She will be greatly missed by her children, Linda Wainright and her husband, John of Boalsburg; Edward Michael Lee and his wife, Judith of Erie; Catherine M. Lee of Corry; Margaret Lee Baskette and her husband, Patrick of Tampa, Fla.; Timothy Lee of Germantown, Md.; and Deborah Lee-Sanko and her husband, William of Fairview.
She also leaves 14 grandchildren, John Wainright, Elizabeth Wainwright, Erin Lee Bailey, Edward Lee, Evan Lee, Ean Lee, Janelle Gose, Maureen Ferguson, Elliott Ferguson, Mary Elizabeth Baskette, Izabelle Baskette, Geoffrey Sanko, Molly Zielinski and Garrett Sanko and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 61 years, Edward M. Lee; her daughter, Mary Jayne Lee Ferguson; and her grandson, Gregory Olsen Sanko.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Clearfield, with Msgr. David Rubino, Ph.D., as celebrant. Burial will follow in the Crown Crest Memorial Park, Hyde.
Friends will be received from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home, Clearfield
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: St. Francis School, 230 S. Second St., Clearfield, or to Joseph & Elizabeth Shaw Public Library, 1 S. Front St., Clearfield.
To sign the online guest book, go to www.beardsleyfuneralhome.com.
