LEE, Arlo B.

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona - 09/17/2004 Arlo B. Lee was born in Nutrioso to Thomas Rainey and Rhoda Frances Lee Sept. 26, 1917. His family consisted of nine children. He was the last of this large family to pass away. His father was a farmer and a freighter whos life was hard and short, dying when Arlo was eight-years-old. His mother was elected to the office of Apache County Recorder in 1929 and moved her large brood to St. Johns where she reared her family and died there in 1939. Arlo graduated from St. Johns High School in 1935. He married Katy Gibbons on Aug. 10, 1940. He was a postal worker when World War II began. He moved his family to Winslow and became a fireman on the Santa Fe Railroad and spent three years frozen to his job when the railroad were transporting troops across the country. After the war, he returned to the family home in St. Johns where he ran for Apache County Assessor and was successful. Later on he was appointed as Deputy County Sheriff. He left politics and began working for Whiting Brothers Sawmill in Eagar as Foreman. He worked there for 15 years but politics fascinated him. As a second job, he ran for the office of Apache County Supervisor and again was elected. He now had two jobs, which he maintained for 16 years. He was defeated finally and acquired the office of Apache County Planning and Zoning. While three he was a major influence in obtaining a grant for the building of the St. Johns City Park. Again politics lured him and he ran again and was elected to the office of Apache County Assessor. He did not finish his term there but retired in 1981, at which time he and his wife completed a mission for his church in Washington D.C. He was very active in his church all of his life, serving as Bishop, among many other activities. While serving as County Supervisor many things were accomplished. The addition of the El to the original county courthouse was added, a grant for the building of what is now the Senior Center was obtained, the road connecting Snowflake and St. Johns was finished and he was a major influence in persuading Salt River Project to locate an electric power plant near St. Johns. Arlo died Sept. 10, 2004 in Phoenix. He left a huge grieving posterity; six children, 42 grandchildren and 95 great grandchildren. All who knew him in the St. Johns area will greatly miss him. Funeral services for Arlo Lee were Thursday, Sept. 16 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Downtown Chapel in St. Johns. Burnham-Jewkes Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.