Lee Blocker

Lee Blocker has passed on, August 14, 2008, at his home at Lakeway, leaving behind his precious wife Jean Lilliott Blocker, his loving and grateful daughters Miriam Owen, Allison Russell, and Betsy Nalle, sons-in-law Mark Owen, John Russell, and Rick Nalle, and 2 generations of progeny. He is much loved and has been the most wonderful husband, father, and grandfather imaginable. Lee was born in Houston, Texas on October 27, 1917 and was raised by his mother Lillian Brewer Blocker. He never knew his Dad, who was lost in a train accident during Lee's infancy. As a kid and through college, Lee had a newspaper route and delivered papers on horseback and by bicycle. From this enterprise, he paid all his expenses and contributed to the household from the time he was twelve. Lee graduated from Rice University and received a Master's Degree from Columbia University School of Business in New York. In 1941, during his graduate school days, he returned to Houston to marry his sweetheart, Jean, thus solidifying one of the greatest loves of all time. It took several months before they could save enough money for her to make the trip to New York to join him. As a Certified Public Accountant, he practiced accounting with Haskins & Sells in New York City and in Houston. He then became active in the hotel business, construction and development in Houston and developed several subdivisions there, including Hedwig Circle in the Memorial Drive Area. In 1963, Lee moved his family to Austin and with his Houston friends, John H. Crooker, Jr. and G. Flint Sawtelle, began an experiment grounded on the prescient faith in Austin and the hill country's wonderful appeal to a growing population of Texans. That experiment was Lakeway which in its earliest days enjoyed the fruits of Lee's foresight and hard work and has rewarded him thereafter as the home and community that returned his love and comforted him. He has been active in the development of numerous other areas in or near Austin, among which are Glenlake, Springlake, Meadowlakes, and Madrone Ranch. Lee also cherished the Rotary Club. A Paul Harris Fellow, he served as President of the Downtown Austin Rotary Club and was justly proud of 50 years of perfect attendance in the company of a membership that he honored and respected. He is a founding director of the Austin Rotary Club Foundation, served as an organizing representative of the Rotary Club of Lakeway/Lake Travis and in 1993 was inducted into the District 587 Roll of Fame. Lee and Jean spent many happy days together traveling the countryside, looking at land. He was a great appreciator of nature and loved to play tennis and golf, water ski, snow ski, horseback ride, hunt, and played a really mean game of ping pong. He was generous, sensitive, inquisitive, inspiring, and a supportive family man who was the happiest in the company of his beloved wife, children and grandchildren. Lee was a faithful member of the Christian Science church and enjoyed and was fulfilled by his association with and service to the Church and its membership. The family has planned a memorial service for Saturday, August 23rd, 2 PM at the Lakeway Church (2203 Lakeway Blvd.) to commemorate and celebrate Lee's full and constant expression of Life, Love, family, friendship and community. In lieu of flowers, please express love to your neighbor.