Jimmy Randall Lee

Funeral services for Jimmy R. Lee, 78, of Gilmer, will be 2 p.m. today, July 11, 2010, at Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer, with Robert Brown officiating, eulogy by Bro. James Parrish and a message for the family by Bro. Robert Brown. Burial will be in Gilmer City Cemetery. Mr. Lee passed away Thursday, July 8, 2010, in Gilmer. Jimmy was born on July 31, 1931, in Gilmer, Texas, to Arthur C.E. Lee and Renna Hail Lee. He married Margaret Emma White on November 22, 1951, who became his lifelong partner of 58 years. He was preceded in death by his son, Jimmy Randal Lee Jr., the first of his four children, in 1971. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Lee; a son, Rudy Lee and wife, Shaine, of Gilmer; daughters, Linda Rumfield Lee and Lisa Lee of Gilmer; 21 grandchildren, including their spouses; 20 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Jimmy worked for Texas Eastman Co. in maintenance and operations for 27 years, during which time he also served in the U.S. Army National Guard for three years. He worked for the city of Gilmer from 1980-1981 in code enforcement and community development. From 1981-1985, Jimmy was involved in private construction and then returned to work for the city of Gilmer from 1985-1995 as the city's community development coordinator overseeing planning and zoning, parks and cemeteries, during which time he brought many needed improvements to the community as well as being instrumental in the building of the current city library and in securing land for the city's new Head Start program. He completed multiple courses for this position and held several licenses and associate memberships. During this time he served as secretary/treasurer, vice president and president of the Northeast Texas Building Inspectors Association. In 1995, he left to work for the city of Lufkin as a building inspector, where he thoroughly enjoyed working until he was forced to retire due to open heart surgery. Jimmy was active in the Lions Club for more than nine years and enjoyed writing, poetry, golf, fishing, dancing, playing cards, coin collecting and occasional hunting. During the time of his retirement, he became well known in the Upshur County area for several of the poems he had written, which were published in the Gilmer Mirror as well as in certain volumes of nationally published poetry. He loved spending time with family and gatherings with his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. He came to know the Lord at an early age and his lifelong desire was to someday go home and be with Jesus. Pallbearers will be Ben Dixon, Randy Rumfield, Jonathan Reeves, Jeremy Reeves, Travis Lee, Tyler Lee, Jeremy Pendarvis, Daniel Austin and Aaron McKinney. Honorary pallbearers will be Harold "Blue" Baird, Thurman "T" Hearn, Matthew Thompson, Rhaunal Williams and Harmon Wood. Please leave online condolences at www.croleyfh.net