Jean Darlene Lee

Jean Darlene Lee was born Jean Darlene Cottle on April 8th, 1933 in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. She and her family were faithful members of the Pilgrim Holiness Church in Sault Sainte Marie. She graduated from Sault Sainte Marie High School in 1951. Later she was employed as a switch board operator in a local hotel and later at Edison Soo Electric.

One evening in March of 1954, she attended a Bible Study at a local Baptist church where she met a young airman who was a member of the United States Air Force who had recently returned to the states after a tour of duty in Japan. DuWayne liked to say that he noticed an attractive little blond sitting across the room. They were married the next December.

Jean was an amazing woman. For several years she cared for her mother in the Lee household and later for her aunt Martha for many more years. But, the greatest example of her caregiving was taking care of her oldest daughter Sandi who was bedridden for the last twenty seven years of her life due to a rare muscle calcification disease. She bathed a fed Sandi and read to her for hundreds of hours. In Jesus’ words, she laid up treasure in heaven where moth and rust can not corrode and thieves break in and steal. She has gone on to enjoy those treasures.

Jean was an excellent typist and served as her husband’s secretary for many years not because she was his wife, but because she was so good at the typewriter. DuWayne liked to say that she could sit on his lap and that no one from the church could complain. She typed hundreds of sermons and Bible studies, many until she was diagnosed with ALS. Most of that work was done long before we had computers. Jean also had the gift of hospitality and was fond of serving lovely meals to her family and friends.

Jean went into the presence of the Savior she loved on Sunday, September 1st, which was three months and seventeen days before she and DuWayne would have celebrated their seventieth anniversary on December 18th.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents Tyson and Celia Cottle, by her brother Clarence and by her beloved daughter Sandi. She is survived in death by her deeply grateful husband DuWayne, by her daughters Vickie and Brenda, by her grandchildren Derek, Angela, Devin, Taylor, and Kianna, and by her sister Edie and brother James. They all loved her and were abundantly blessed by her love.

A memorial service to honor Jean’s life will be held on Saturday, October 5 at 11:00 am. Please join us at Redeemer Church 22434 Nisqually, Apple Valley, Ca 92308.