E. Vernon Lee

E. Vernon Lee August 6, 1919 – August 24, 2007 E. Vernon Lee, 88, went to be with his Lord Friday, August 24, 2007 at St. Catherine’s Center with his sons at his bedside. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 30 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel with Rev. David Story officiating. Burial will follow at Rosemound Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 29 in the Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Vernon was born August 6, 1919 in Buckholts, Texas to James Carl and Amanda Vurnie James Lee. The family, including Vernon’s older sister and younger brother, moved to Waco in 1925, where Vernon attended Waco schools, graduating from Waco High School in 1937. Vernon began working at the age of 14 for Jones Fine Bread. His work ethic, which he was known for his entire life, became even more important and evident following the untimely death of his father and brother in 1935. He enlisted in the Air Force in December 1941, served in the South West Pacific theatre, and received an honorable discharge in December 1945. Upon returning to Waco following the end of WWII, Vernon began his banking career in 1946 with the Citizens National Bank of Waco, where he would work proudly for the next 38 years. He started work at the bank as a teller, then moved to the Proof Dept. before becoming an installment lending officer. Vernon served as an installment loan officer for almost 30 years, working along side Fred Brown, E.B. Duncan, Paul McNamara, Aubrey Shivers and Jack Warrick before retiring as a Vice President of the bank in December 1984. In 1950, co-worker Kenneth Hathaway introduced Vernon to his sister, Hellen Barbara Ford Williams. Vernon and Hellen were married on August 8, 1951 and together raised two sons, William Carlton Bill Lee and James Michael Mike Lee. Theirs was a marriage of true devotion and love, spanning 55 years until Hellen’s death on September 7, 2006. In addition to his sense of fairness, wonderful sense of humor, and complete unselfishness, Vernon was also well-known for his deep love of Texas A&M and Aggie athletics. Preceding Vernon in death were his wife Hellen, his parents Mr. & Mrs. J.C. Lee, sister Jimmie Elna Grevelle Whitaker, and brother Billy Bob Lee. Survivors include son, Bill Lee of Lindale; son, Mike Lee and wife, Marissa of Waco; grandchildren, Kelley C. Lee and wife, JayJay of Athens; Laurie Lee Pappas of Austin; Stacie Lee Tiller and husband, Will of Orange Grove; Marci Lee of Temple; Axton Dellert; Nicole Dellert and Stephen Dellert of Austin; great grandchildren, Amanda Lee, Jennifer Lee, Austin Monroe and Colton Monroe of Athens and Alexander Pappas of Austin; nephews, Jim Grevelle of Brenham, Steve Hathaway and Gary Hathaway of OreCity. Vernon was a member of Richfield Christian Church, former member of the Optimist Club, an associate member of the Texas A&M Former Students Association, as well as active in Lake Air Little League and Lake Air Junior Teen-age Baseball. He was strong in principle, strong in body and strong in faith. The family sincerely appreciates the care provided by Dr. Robert Long, the staff of Providence Hospital Floor 3-South, St. Catherine’s Center and Providence Hospice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey