Heckart-Gillespie Funeral Home

Nelson Blake Lee, 83, of Sedalia, died Monday, September 15, 2003 at Bothwell Regional Health Center.

He was born February 9, 1920, in Wadsworth, Ohio, son of Perry E. and Dora I. Richards Lee. On June 1, 1945, in Sedalia, he married Geneva Elizabeth Mincoff, who survives of the home.

Mr. Lee was a member of Parkview Christian Church. He was a Mason for fifty years, a member of Sedalia Lodge 236 AF and AM, a Scottish Rite Mason, member of the Sedalia Scottish Rite Club, was past chapter president of the National

Campers and Hikers Association and a member of the Show-Me Gavaliers Camping Club. He was a United States Air Force veteran of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam, serving for twenty-four years. After his retirement from the Air Force he worked for National Union Life Insurance Company and was the Assistant City Building Inspector for 10 years. He loved the outdoors, camping, fishing and spending his winters in Florida.

Survivors include his wife, Geneva Lee of the home; two sons, Gary L. Lee of Liberty and Steven B. Lee of Sedalia; a brother, Wesley Lee of Wadsworth, Ohio; four grandchildren; and a great grandchild. He was preceded in death by a brother, Charles E. Lee; a daughter, Susan Marie Lee; and a son, Blake Junior Lee.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Heckart/Gillespie Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Rodney Brown officiating.

Burial will be in Highland Sacred Gardens Cemetery, with the Whiteman Air Force Base honor guard conducting military honors.

Pallbearers will be Eric Lee, Brian Lee, Kevin Lee, Francis Ream, Gary Wasson and Bob Harvey.

Friends may call after 12 noon Wednesday at the Heckart/Gillespie Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends from 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday. Friends may also sign the guest register online at www.heckart-gillespie.com.

The family suggests contributions to the Bothwell Regional Health Center Cancer Center or to the American Heart Association.