James Keith Lee's Obituary
Mr. James Keith Lee, a loving husband, father and grandfather passed away Monday, August 15, 2016, at Tucker Hospice House in Kannapolis.
A memorial service for Mr. Lee is scheduled for 3:30 pm Saturday, August 20, 2016 at Bethpage United Methodist Church. Rev. Marc Portis and Rev. Duane Melton will officiate. Entombment will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 3:15 pm Saturday at Bethpage United Methodist Church prior to the service.
Mr. Lee was born September 2, 1941 in Rowan County, NC. He was the son of the late Homer Lee and Gladys Safrit Lee.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Marty Lee Allen; brother, Charles Lee; and sister, Barbara Bunger.
Mr. Lee drove a school bus for Rowan County after he retired from Pillowtex in 2000. He was an avid swimmer and enjoyed being outdoors and working in his yard. He also enjoyed riding his motorcycle with his brother on cross country adventures. Mr. Lee was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
During the time his son, Jimmy, was in the military serving in Iraq, he developed what became his “Prayer Seed Ministry” as he polished peach seeds by hand and carved a cross into each of them. He has made and given away many of these prayer seeds to his family and friends.
Mr. Lee is survived by his wife, Mary “Gibby” Lee; two daughters, Michelle Bentley and husband Joe of Charlotte and Crystal Houston and husband Dale of Mt. Ulla; son, Jimmy Lee and wife Carrie of El Paso, TX; nine grandchildren, Heath Houston, Blake Houston, Hannah Houston, Burgin Bentley, Keller Bentley, Annalee Bentley, Kiser Lee, Graylen Lee and Taylor Allen. He is also survived by three brothers, David Eugene Lee and wife Ann of Lansing, Roger Lee and wife Kim of Hickory and Bob Lee and wife Teena of Kannapolis; two sisters Martha Carolyn Harrell and husband John of Kannapolis and Gloria Jean Lee of Hickory.
Memorials may be made to Bethpage United Methodist Church, 109 Fellowship Avenue, Kannapolis, NC 28081, to Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081, or to the Mary “Gibby” Lee Scholarship Fund at CMC-NorthEast, 920 Church Street North, Concord, NC 28025.
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