Dr. William Reece Lee: Obituary

Obituaries

Dr. William Reece Lee died peacefully surrounded by family on August 29, 2015. He was born on September 21, 1926, in Etowah, TN. His parents were Minnie Tallent and Arnold Lee. He was a direct descendent of Captain Thomas Lee, who was of an original first family settling in TN.

Upon completing high school in 1944, he enlisted in the United States Navy serving two years during World War II on the destroyer USS Chevalier DD 805 in the Pacific Theater.

After the war, he attended pharmacy school at Howard College in Birmingham, AL, before moving to the Basin to work with his uncles at Tallent’s Pharmacy.

From 1953-1958, he attended Baylor School of Medicine in Houston, TX. Upon graduating in 1958, he returned to the Basin opening his medical practice on Main Street in Ducktown. Here he quickly became known as a true physician, possessing skillful hands and a keen mind. It was his sole desire and mission in life to serve others in the name of Christ. Along his earthly journey, he quietly and humbly yet boldly and fearlessly shared Christ’s love with others in his daily walk. He did this not only professionally, while meeting the medical needs of his patients, but also casually encountering those in the community.

Dr. Lee was active in community affairs including serving on the McCaysville-Copperhill Fire Department and Polk County School Board. He initiated First Tuesday in Ducktown and provided free health clinics in Coker Creek, Snowbird, Ellijay and Blue Ridge. Dr. Lee helped in the founding of Copper Basin Riding Club and he was a founder of Ducktown Basin Museum.

In 1964, with a medical mission trip to Bolivia, South America, he and his wife, Hattie Lorraine Russell, began meeting not only the medical, but also the spiritual needs of “the least of these”, always on a voluntary basis outside the Basin area. Together they traveled on sixty-four mission trips, which included forty-five trips abroad and nineteen trips within the United States. They served Christ in multiple locations throughout North America, Central America, South America, Africa, China, Russia, Kyrgyuzstan, India, Jordan, in the Philippines, and the Caribbean.

Surviving are his wife of sixty-nine years, Hattie Lorraine and children Linda (Lee) Minor of Webster, NC, Laura (Tom) Cook of Rock Hill, SC and Luke (Nora) Lee of Jonesborough, TN; grandchildren are Tamara (Tom) Kelly, Travis Turrentine; John (Lindsay) Cook, Russell (Taylor) Cook, Mallory (Alex) Collins, Megan Lee and Matt Lee; great-grandchildren are Adam and Mary Kelly, Keaton and Salem Turrentine and Addison Cook. Dr. Lee was preceded in death by both his son, Robert and his great-grandson, Issac Kelly.

In keeping with his wishes of sharing Jesus with “the least of these”, the family respectively request in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Mexico Missions Ministries, Inc., C/O Wayne and Nina Fleming, 2409 Sunset Blvd., Mission, TX 78574.

Family visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, September 1, 2015, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m at Akins Funeral Home located at 823 Ocoee Street, Copperhill, TN 37317. A celebration of his life will be held on Wednesday, September 2, 2015, 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of McCaysville, GA-Coppperhill, TN, 104 Toccoa Avenue, McCaysville, GA 30555 with Rev. Claude Mathis, Rev. Henry Ethridge and Rev. Matthew McDaniel officiating. Music will be by Rev. Harry and Katie Gilbert, Ryan Norton and Troy Simonds. Interment will follow in the Crestlawn Cemetery with full military honors provided by the North Georgia Honor Guard. Pallbearers will be Travis Turrentine, Keaton Turrentine, Tommy Kelly, Adam Kelly, John Cook and Russell Cook.

The family expresses a special thank you to all the staff at Skyland Care Center in Sylva, NC, for their excellent compassionate care, support and understanding during the last one and a half years.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.akinsfuneralhome.com.

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