Charles W. LEE

   Cause of his death was acute leukemia as a result of prostate cancer.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Obituary: by his widow, Miriam Olson Lee, 2001. Charlie was born 4-5-1917 in Cleburne, TX. When he was about 7, his parents, along with Charlie's 3 brothers and his sister; plus another family of 6, decided to go to California to make a better life. Each family had a Model T Ford and all of their belongings.

To cross the Arizona desert, planks had been laid on the sand - however, it was a one-lane road, so if a car was coming the other direction, both vehicles stopped and a determination was made as to the weight of each vehicle. Then the lightest vehicle was picked up and set in the sand - the other car moved - then, the car in the sand was placed back on the planks. (There was quite an article in the Arizona Highways about this very subject).

These were the depression years but the Lees were very determined, hard workers and resourceful. They were able to acquire a home with some acreage and since they all loved horses; they set up a "riding academy" which made additional income for the family. On weekends, groups were taken for an outing in the surrounding hills on "their" horse. Upon returning, Charlie's mother always had plenty of baked beans and "hot dogs". People also boarded their horses at the "academy". Charlie's Dad had a natural talent in training and handling horses. They had Tennessee Walking horses - Morgan Quarter horses - Appaloosa horses - they built up quite a number of thoroughbred horses that won first place ribbons at various horse shows.

There was a large productive apple tree on their property and Charlie said he ate so many apples fixed in so many different ways, he never wanted to see another apple in his life!

Charlie's schoolmates called him "Boxcar Charlie"! He had a habit of jumping a freight train and traveling to who knew where! Even Charlie didn't know! He wanted to see as much of the country as possible and it was a great adventure.

As I was going through some of his notes while putting together some things to send to his oldest son and wife who wanted to have memorial services for him, I came across a note directed to his Mother. "One thing is, I have neglected to tell you, Mom, that I am sorry for running away from home and causing you so much grief not knowing where I was, and I really am very sorry. Thank you for taking me back." I don't know if he put that on another card and mailed it to her. She lived to be 105 years old. He also told me that he went to sleep every night listening to music. His Mother played the piano and sang along with his Dad and neighbors who loved to sing. They were strict Southern Baptists so a lot of the songs were hymns. They particularly enjoyed Tennessee Ernie Ford's music and other Western Country Hymn singing.

Charlie was Grandpa to all 7 of my grandchildren and they loved him dearly. He also has 7 grandchildren, all in California. Some of the older ones (including my grandchildren) turned to him for counseling when they had a heavy problem on their minds and treasured his interest in them, often helping them to think about their problem on a larger scope, which sometimes solved the problem.

Although he didn't realize how creative he was, in his later years he joined a wood carving club and found, not only was he creative, but he became an accomplished wood carver. This became his "recreation" after working for the day in his shop. (He had built a very nice shop (19' x 26') with such detail, it could easily be finished out as a guest house.)

All of the carvings had won ribbons at wood carving shows. He had 4 adult children and he asked them to each choose one - their name was stuck to the bottom of the carving for them to take after he passed on.

He belonged to 2 wood carvers groups as he later joined a 2nd carvers club. He also did an oil painting for each of his children and 2 for me. He never had any art lessons. His Mother was also creative. She participated in many of the craft lessons where she was, and amazed many of the elderly roommates where she lived.

In addition, Charlie had a "green thumb" and he said his Mother did also. His garden of flowers and vegetables (some very unique varieties such as egg plant, artichokes, even peanuts); and we enjoyed seeing them all from the patio door along with many good meals with an entire different flavor than "store bought". One of his ideas was featured in The Phoenix Home & Garden Magazine. He built a 3 tiered "wedding cake garden box", each level with its own bubbler system, showing how a person with little yard space - such as a patio home - could raise a large garden in a small area. Charlie also belonged to a Men's Garden Club.

Charlie had many talents, and one of them was to get me to do something he wanted, and all the while I am thinking it was my idea!

Charlie was a carpenter by trade and had learned the fast pace of carpentry in California. At a later time, he established a feed store in Carmichael, CA. Later, he worked for Shopsmith with California and Arizona as part of his territory. Of course, this meant he was on the road a lot and away from home.

Charlie and I met in the Burien area of Seattle about 1963. I had 3 real estate offices within a 15-mile radius. We were just getting ready to open an acreage office when one of my salesman told me he had met a "great guy" for that office.

Although he was working at that time in construction, he had plenty of experience in sales. I told him to make an appointment to have him come in. We liked each other from the moment of meeting. He worked for me for 3 years in the acreage office when he asked for a leave of absence as he felt he should get back into construction for awhile so he could "get back in shape". Charlie was always careful about keeping his body strong, fit and trim.

Charlie knew it was my practice never to "date" anyone who worked for me. After he went back into construction, on some Saturday's, he would come over to the main office where I was and take me to lunch so we continued our friendship. A few months after he went back into construction, he said at one Saturday lunch - "Now, will you go out with me?"

We both agreed this would only be a relationship of "non-serious" dating. He said that was fine - both of us were divorced and wanted to remain single. We got married a year later at my sister's house in Seahurst (Seattle suburb)! September 23rd, 2001 would have been our 34th wedding anniversary.

One of my most treasured experiences occurred in the hospital. I was sitting on the recliner writing in a journal and glanced over at Charlie. He had his hand through the bed rail and I put my hand in his. He had so much love in his eyes, I was mesmerized. We sat that way for at least a half-hour.

I have his ashes in a lovely box he had made, 2 hearts intertwined he made out of a single block of wood sitting on the top of the box, an angel holding two candles at the side along with a bulky red candle (which was his favortie color) and the same picture you see on this article glued to a flat carving he made of a bird. So wherever I am, so is he. I do feel his presence often. I wake up in the night, finding myself on the other half of the bed which makes me think he is up since no one is lying there and I get up and walk around the apartment and finally realize he's with God...not on this earth...but his spirit still visits me.

Charles married Miriam Millicent OLSON, daughter of Samuel Erik OLSON and Emma Marie Ambjorg DAHLGREN, on 23 Sep 1967 in King County, WA. (Miriam Millicent OLSON was born on 2 Jul 1926 in Chelan County, WA and died on 15 Jun 2002 in Spokane, Spokane County, WA.)

  Marriage Notes:

Seahurst, WA