LEE, Arthur Nelson

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona - 02/22/2005 Arthur Nelson Lee, 84, died quietly at his home in Eagar, Feb. 16, 2005. He was born in Nutrioso, Jan. 21, 1921 to Marion and Ella Maxwell Lee. He spent his entire life in the White Mountains of Arizona except for a stint in the United States Army in 1945. Art married Kathleen Wilkins in 1941. They had four children. Art Art almost finished the 10th grade in school, but his gregarious nature, love of people, desire to serve the people of Apache County took him before government heads at the Arizona State Capital in Phoenix and the United States Capital in Washington DC. He was an Apache County Supervisor for 27 years. In addition, Art wore many hats during his lifetime. As a businessman, he and wife Kathleen owned and operated a Western Auto Store in Springerville in the 60s. He also was a rancher, a logger, worked at a sawmill and was a roads worker. He never met a stranger and never forgot a face. And he had an excellent memory for names. He had an impish, crooked smile that immediately made a person want to know him better. Art was diagnosed with malignant lymphoma approximately 10 years ago, but that didn't slow him down much. He continued to travel and work the ranch. When Kathleen died in 2003, Art was at a loss for several months. In 2004 he remarried, making Betty McInnis Lund his wife. They shared a home in Eagar. Art's survivors include his wife Betty, sons Merwin N. Lee, Blackfoot, Idaho; and Dennis Randall Lee, St. Johns; daughter Donna Kathryn Cherry, Murrieta, California; brothers Maxie Lee, Eagar, Loran Lee, Pahoa, Hawaii; sisters Iris LeSueur, Eagar; Lavern Peg Slade, Eagar; Gwendolyn Hillman, Aguila; and Ida Mae Jones, Queen Creek; as well as 17 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife Kathleen Wilkins Lee; a son Dwight Lee; and his parents Marion and Ella Lee. Funeral services were Saturday, Feb. 19 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Eagar Stake Center in Eagar. Interment was at the Eagar Cemetery. Burnham-Jewkes Mortuary handled the arrangements.