Edward Morris Lee, M.D.

Ed Lee left this world Tuesday, November 22, 2022, blanketed in love, having completed a life -- joy-filled, content, and reverent -- escorted by the hugs, tears, kisses and gratitude of his family beside him.

“And we are put on earth a little space,

That we may learn to bear the beams of love.”

-- William Blake

Ed was born in Houston in 1934, the only child of Lillian Todd Lee and Morris Winfield Lee when Houston was smaller than Waco is now. He would often ride the bus downtown and watch movies all afternoon. Any movie that had a train, tap dancing, or a black stallion was deemed the best. His parents instilled in him great integrity, great interest, and great respect for people of all walks of life. His parents were wonderful conversationalists -- so much so, that Ed became a man of few words. He led by kindness and empathy, along with outbursts of fun. He gave copiously from wells of love, understanding, and patience, all fueled by his embodiment and unshakeable reflection of God’s everlasting, ever-available grace.

Upon his death, he fulfilled his baptism in Christ and found his salvation. He most certainly lived it throughout his life, offering it to others most simply through the sparkle of genuine kindness in his eyes, his desire to listen and hear, and the blessedness of his desire to strengthen and heal. He held grace in stillness, in solitude and with community, aspiring to reflect the tender mercies of his deep Christian faith.

Ed attended Baylor University and graduated in 1956. He was offered a place on the tennis team, but he turned it down to concentrate on studying to be a doctor. He had been determined since the age of four to become a physician when he saw in his own physician the caring and comfort extended to him when he had a bad cold.

There were whispered rumors when his freshman roommate made a visit a couple of years ago that he may have been involved in a well-thought out but ill-conceived plan to make it seem like the Aggies had stolen the Baylor Bear. The results were high attendance at the football game as was the intended purpose of the prank, but the prank went awry in at least one way when a cow became a casualty, allegedly dropping dead of fear, upon meeting her uninvited lodger who was deposited for an overnight stay in her pasture.

Ed, along with many other Baylor students, went to work on May 11, 1953, in downtown Waco, clearing rubble and helping people in crisis after the Waco Tornado.

After graduation from Baylor, Ed attended Baylor Medical School in Houston. He completed an internship at The Medical College of Virginia in Richmond and then fulfilled his medical training as Chief Resident in Urology at Vanderbilt University. After one sleepless night attending to patients and then updating charts at a desk, Ed was introduced to a nursing student – one Ellen Waddle – by a senior nurse instructor who thought they might make a good match. Ed stood up and without meeting her eye said, “How do you do?” Then, he sat back down. Ed and Ellen did not see each other again until a year had passed. Ellen was caring for a baby in a neonatal intensive care ward and was dressed in sterile gowns. Ed kept returning again and again to the room, observing the baby, checking her bandages, and asking questions. Ellen, who earned the title of Miss Vanderbilt Nurse the year she graduated, began to doubt her nursing skills; but Ed was only trying to get a glimpse of her name tag. He already loved her for the way she cared for that baby. On their anniversary two years ago, Ed said, “Yes, I can’t live without her.”

Ed and Ellen married in 1965 in West Point, Georgia. Throughout their married lives, their love for one another inspired many and their example was the greatest gift they gave to their children.

Ed and Ellen moved to Tyler, Texas, after their wedding to set up practice. Ed soon was to become “an obligated volunteer” as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He served two years, one in San Antonio at Ft. Sam Houston and the next as the Chief Urologist of the Seventeenth Field Hospital, Saigon.

He returned home to Texas and settled down with Ellen in Waco in 1968, living out the rest of his life here. He practiced Urology in Waco for over 40 years. He was an avid horseman throughout his life, heading to the barn whether there be rain, fire, tornado or 112-degree weather.

He found the deepest contentment and freedom in his devotion to his patients, his family, his horses, his friends, his children, his children’s friends, his grandchildren….and in the end, the people who shared his table at The Blake, even if only through utterances of his eyes. He always took interest. His deepest desire was to help, to reassure, to listen and to love people.

He is survived by Ellen, his wife of 57 years; his daughters, Loren Lee, of Waco, and Amy Lee-Lovelady, of Vero Beach, Florida; his son, Jeff Lee, of Frisco, Texas; his daughter-in-law, Allison Goen Lee, and son-in-law, Clark Lovelady; his five grandchildren, Andrew, Ben, and Cate Lovelady and Jonathan and Madeleine Lee. Each person in his family was his best friend.

Over his life, Dr. Robert Christian and Ed made up a brotherhood of biscuits. Amy Burbank was his indefatigable nurse sidekick for 32 years. Warren Johnson and he solved the world’s problems over Poppa Rollo’s pizza, and he and Dan Wash broke attendance records at Waco movie theaters. Ginger Farmer brought her baby by The Blake to squeeze. So many countless and unforgettable acts of kindness encircled him and his family, most recently and especially, those of Lance and Todd Ousley.

In his care givers, Salina Cervantez and Ayanna Long, and their helpers Kyla, Jasmine and Claudia, he was given the most abiding and loving care imaginable. They danced with him when he was able, whispered messages in his ear and never left his side. Dr. Nick Schwedock and the aides, nurses, therapists, and administration at The Blake celebrated the dignity of his life, the service of his life and engaged him in laughter and belonging while he was in residence there.

A family service was held shortly after Ed’s death, and a Celebration of Life will be held at a date in the near future. We welcome and would treasure stories or memorable moments you had with Ed. These can be posted on his memory wall on Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home’s website (whbfamily.com). Old-fashioned ways are ok with us too.

If you desire to memorialize Ed through a charitable gift, please consider REACH Therapeutic Riding Center, (254) 848-7888, or a charity of value to you. We are grateful.

“And we are put on earth a little space,

That we may learn to bear the beams of love.”

-- William Blake

Let us be ablush, remembering him, standing on his shoulders, embracing, conquering, surrendering to and celebrating such love in the way he did, following him home.