Cover photo for Thomas Jay Lee's Obituary

Thomas Jay Lee

Thomas Jay Lee

Thomas Jay Lee, resident of the Terraces of Boise Retirement Community, died Saturday December 18, 2021, in Boise, Idaho.

Born the son of Gordon and Mary Lee on February 26, 1924 in Bedford, Indiana, Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Frances Asbell, his brother William Spencer, and his wives Joan Wiley and Patricia (Patty Lee).


Tom’s life was defined in his twenties and thirties by a combat wound sustained in the Battle of the Bulge, followed by five years of surgery in a failed attempt to save his injured leg. As the result of his Christian faith, education at Wabash College and the University of Denver, and Joan’s commitment to him, Tom recovered from war-related disabilities. He then contributed to education as a teacher, administrator, and developer of curriculum at Divernon, Illinois schools, Colorado Academy, Ojai Valley School and the Idaho Department of Correction. Joan, daughters Elizabeth Leonardson and Lisa Ellis, and grandchildren Nicholas and Erin Leonardson and Kristina and Thomas Ellis provided a loving family foundation that enriched his personal and professional life.

Patty Lee, a friend since grade school whom he married at age 76, filled Tom’s golden years with delight and led him to write and publish his autobiography Depression, War, Disability Be Damned : Praise God , to continue to play and enjoy music and to grow in faith through study of scripture and activity in the First Presbyterian Church of Hendersonville, North Carolina and Faith Fellowship Church at Ardenwoods Retirement Community. Upon Patty’s death he moved back to Boise, Idaho to be with his family and enjoy his advanced-year activities at the Terraces of Boise.

Tom was a lifetime member of The Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Disabled American Veterans.

He is survived by his daughters; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; nieces, Judith McMillen and Julia Hale and their families; and first cousins Robert M. Lee, Jean Powell and Ann Rittmeyer.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Thomas Jay Lee, please visit our flower store.

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