James Earl Lee, 85, of Lefors, Texas, peacefully fell asleep to wake up in the arms of his beloved Savior on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in Amarillo, Texas. One of seven children, James was born on Sept. 8, 1938, in Erick, Okla. to H.E.“Cub”and Alma Lee.
While growing up in Wellington, Texas, James attended schools there and graduated from Wellington High School in 1957. During his high school years, he excelled while on the basketball court and helped the team win All-State three times. He was also awarded Regional Player of the Year.
James married the love of his life, Patsy Flint, on Dec. 8, 1957,and they moved to Pampa, Texas in 1959. The two of them had shared a wonderful life together; of course, they had their hardships like everyone else but enjoyed 41 years together before her passing in 1999.
Throughout James’ career, he started working for Ogden & Sons as a boat mechanic, then hired on at Cabot in the machinery division as an assembly supervisor, before settling in at IRI and remaining with them for 46 years until his retirement from NOV.
In his free time, James still worked… maybe not at his employment, but tinkering on boats, honing his woodworking skills building knickknacks, furniture or trinkets to sell at craft shows or sharing his love for basketball through coaching kids at the Optimist Club.It was a rare occasion for James to sit idle for long.
As for his family, James absolutely loved them and couldn’t spend enough time with them. Leisurely camping and fishing were a couple of his favorite things with family cookouts as a close second. It was during these gatherings that he would clean house taking all the money from the kids playing 31!
James loved Facebook, might have scratched a few too many lottery tickets and could be feisty and ornery. The family loving referred to him as “Mr.Impatient,”but no one could ever fill the shoes of “Dad”and “PaPa!”
His arrival into Heaven was eagerly awaited by his wife of 41 years, Patsy E. Lee; parents H.E. “Cub” and Alma Lee; four brothers; two sisters; two granddaughters, Amber Nicole Lee and Tessa Marie Lee; and his second wife, Josephine “Jo”Lee.
Those left with the enormous task of carrying on his legacy are his three children, Neal Lee and wife Karen, of Pampa, Michael Lynn Lee, of Roshaun, Texas, and Pamela Lee Brown, of Lubbock,Texas; brother-in-law Larry Flint, of Oklahoma City, Okla.; six grandchildren, James Allen Lee, of Wellington, Ashlie Lee, of Lubbock, Christopher Lee, of Pampa, Cody Wayne Lee and wife Sarah, of Pampa, Matthew Lee and wife Cynthia, of Wellington, and Colton Brown, of Lubbock; 12 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and, of course, his puppy dogs.
The family received friends for viewing from 1-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, and again, from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, Aug 23,2024,at Winegeart Funeral Home Woodhaven State Room in Pampa.
A Celebration of Life Graveside Service took place at 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, at Fairview Cemetery in Pampa with Pastor Kyle Ohsfeldt officiating. The family entrusted the care of their loved one to Winegeart Funeral Home.
If donations are a preference, the family would like to suggest they be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 653067, Dallas, TX 75265, in honor of James.
Please visit winegeartfuneral. com to share sentiments of comfort and sympathy for the family on James’ Book of Memories.
