James Allison Lee

James Allison Lee, 80, Columbia native and resident of Blue Island, Illinois, passed away on May 23, 2013. A graveside service will be conducted Monday, October 14 at 3:00 P.M. at Rose Hill Cemetery where his ashes will be buried in the Lee family plot. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with arrangements and condolences may be offered online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born on January 22, 1933 in Columbia, he was the son of the late James William Lee and Irene Hunnicutt Lee. James received a BS degree from the University of Tennessee and a Master's from University of Louisville. He was formerly employed by the Army Corps of Engineers as Chief of Land Acquisition, and was a very active member and Past President of the Lions Clubs of Blue Island and Morgan Park, IL, and also served Lions Clubs International in Columbus, MS, Louisville, KY, and Knoxville, TN. In Mississippi, he was a very successful administer of the Lions Club Eye Bank program. He served in the U. S. Marines. He was the beloved husband of Normajeanne Base Lee of Blue Island, IL; loving father of Mary Helen Lee and her husband Conan Milner of Chicago, IL; dear brother of Sarah Elizabeth Lee of Columbia; cherished stepfather of 7 step children and 11 step grandchildren. Surviving cousins include Betty Lee Wright and Janice Lee Myers of Spring Hill; Randolph Jackson "Jack" and Rena Lee of Nashville; Mary Edna Lee Jenkins of Ashland City; Francis Lee Walker Crawford of Brentwood; Shirley Lee Walker Queener of Lexington, KY; and many cousins in Alabama.