Rose Lee

Rose Lee, age 92, passed away on Thursday, February 17, 2011 in Glendale, AZ. Rose was born on October 20, 1918 in Canton, China. Her father and mother, Lee Jew and Soo Hoo Shee Lee, moved to Arizona when she was 10 months old in 1919. She lived at 13th Street and Van Buren for a short time before the family moved to 15th Street and Washington where Lee Jew started Lee Jew Grocery Store. Rose and her siblings lived and worked there under Lee Jew’s watchful eye. In 1930, when Rose was in 5th grade, she and Esther were sent back to China to attend an international school in Guong Chew to learn Chinese. In 1937, Doug and Rose met on the USS Coolidge while returning to the states from China. Upon her return to Arizona, she attended Lamson Business College and worked briefly in an office despite Doug’s wishes for her to relax and plan for a wedding. After 5 years of courtship through letters, Doug and Rose married on April 25, 1943. They hadn’t seen each other since their reentry to the US in 1937. In Rose’s words, “We never even had a cup of coffee together.” They were married at First Chinese Baptist Church and had a banquet and dance at the Adams Hotel. After marriage, they moved back to east for a year and a half. They lived in Long Island, New York, for a short time then moved to a farm in New Jersey, where Carol was born. In 1944, they moved back to Phoenix because his doctor recommended he move to a drier climate due to Doug’s arthritis and back condition. Doug and Rose worked at Lee Jew Grocery Store until they opened their first business, Lee’s Restaurant which later became Asia House on McDowell Road. In the late 1940’s, Doug and Rose built the house on Culver so they could live closer to the restaurant. In 1950, with all these life changing events they added one more change, Terry was born. Along with the restaurant on McDowell, they opened two eat in and take out restaurants. Rose ran one of the businesses on her own for about two years. After devoting their lives to the restaurant business, they enjoyed their retirement by traveling extensively. Even after she retired, Rose was the perpetual hostess to anyone and everyone.

Rose was preceded in death by her spouse, Douglas Lee, and her great granddaughter, Emily Quan. She is survived by three sisters, Esther Lee, Vivian Ko, and Gladys Ikeda (Bob). She is also survived by her daughter, Carol Quan (Fred), and her son Terry Lee (Dorene), 5 grandchildren, Debbie Tang(Lance), Eric Quan (Sandi), Jessica Lee, Christopher Lee (Dian), Jennifer Moore (James), and 14 great grandchildren.

Visitations will be held on Friday, February 25th from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. and a memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 26th at 10:00 A.M. at A.L. Moore Grimshaw, 710 W. Bethany Home Road. Interment will follow at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of the Valley. Please share with us your fond memories and tributes of Rose Lee.