Obituary of James Ray Lee

James “Jim” Ray Lee was born to Charles and Irene Lee on October 10, 1948 in Olympia, Washington. He stepped into heaven on October 8, 2004 in his Tumwater home, surrounded by friends and family. He is survived by his siblings: Val Cory, Toni Sharp, Cricket Nordholm, Kelly Lee, and Marty Byrd. He was preceded in death by his sister, Kristy Lee. Jim leaves behind a wonderful legacy in his children: Jamie (Jacque) Lee, and Miki (Ian) Daniels by Marilyn Doss (married 1968 – 1976); and Russ (Cindy) Noreen, Shay (Steve) Oster, Tami Lee, Dawn (Brian) Henderson, and Jimi Lee by Rae Lee (married 1976 – 2002). A source of great pride and joy were his 15 grandchildren: Cassidy, Cameron, Shanea, Shawnta, Sheldon, Tawny, Melodie, Lydia, Kexshera, Sierra, Alissa, Jace, Austin, Melody, and Baby NaVana. Jim moved to Coos Bay, Oregon as a child and graduated from Marshfield High School in 1967. He worked with his father on a logging crew for several years before returning to Olympia to raise his family. Jim served as a volunteer firefighter for three years in the Littlerock Fire Department. He was a talented handyman and enjoyed working as a professional cabinet builder for Adken Millworks. Jim was hired by the Washington State Patrol in 1987 as a carpenter. He rose through the ranks to manage a large crew that maintained all of the Patrol’s facilities. He took great pride in his work and was known for his sense of humor. He was honored to have worked for Tom Neff for many years. Jim dedicated 17 years of his life to a job he loved and considered himself a lucky man. An avid lover of nature, Jim enjoyed camping, riding quads, hunting, boating, and walks in the woods. He loved planning family events and spending time with his children, grandchildren, and siblings. Jim loved adventures, games, and jokes: his smile and laughter were contagious. Jim was a selfless friend and a hero to many. He was a model of courage to those who witnessed his six-year battle with cancer. His constant optimism encouraged other patients and his family and friends. He lived each moment to the fullest and truly appreciated his blessings. His family is grateful to several close friends who gave back to Jim his kindness in full: Lee and Tami Pennington, Tom Neff, Bob Grayless, Adolfo Capestany, and Skeeter. Great is your reward when you meet your friend again. Memorial services are to be held on Friday, October 15, at 11am at the Olympia Metro Church, 618 Puget St. NE. A Jim-style spaghetti feed will be served afterward