Robert E. Lee Jr., 85, Festus

Robert E. Lee Jr., 85, of Festus died Sept. 27, 2021, at Mercy Hospice South in St. Louis County. Mr. Lee was an Army veteran, serving from 1958 to 1966. He worked at the Ligon/Landstar trucking and transportation company, first doing clerical work and then sales and finally working in management. From 1968 to 1971, he escorted the nation’s Christmas tree from the Northwest region to Washington, D.C., and was part of the lighting ceremony each of those years. He met President Richard Nixon during that time. Mr. Lee liked crafting, and he made birdhouses out of gourds, and he and his wife, who makes jewelry, sold their wares for 20 years at craft fairs across middle America, receiving recognition for their crafts. Mr. Lee and his wife were members of the First Baptist Church of Arnold for more than 40 years. He was named a Kentucky Colonel, an award the Kentucky governor gives each year. Mr. Lee loved spending time with his family. He also enjoyed making ice cream and barbecue chicken; growing vegetables and flowers; fishing; riding four-wheelers, as well as pets. Born Sept. 10, 1936, in Hopkins County, Ky., he was the son of the late Robert and Verna Lee.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years: Anita Louise (Deardorff) Lee of Festus; a son: Brian Lee of Festus; a daughter: Lelia Lee (Tim) Mullins; three grandchildren: Mallie Mullins (Brent) Reeder, Amanda Mullins (Mark) Barbeau and Rachel Mullins (Danny) Ochiltree; nine great-grandchildren: Lillie, Stella, Hazel and Dawson Reeder, Piper and Luc Barbeau, and Kitt, August and Murphy Ochitree; and a sister: Alexa (Larry) Finley of Lexington, Ky.

He was preceded in death by two sisters: Betty (Sory “Bubbie”) Offutt and Mary (Thomas) Mitchell.

Funeral services, with full military honors, will be at 12:30 p.m. Thursday (Nov. 4) in the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks.