Robert Emil Lee III

Robert E. (Bob) Lee, III, 89, a resident of Prattville, AL, died on Monday, January 18, 2016. Born in Durham, NC, on November 28, 1926, Bob served in the Navy during World War II, and afterward, attained a B.S. in Botany and a Master of Forestry from Duke University. He began his career in forestry in 1951 as a researcher with the U.S. Forest Service. In 1955, he joined Union Camp Corporation and moved to Prattville in 1974 as Woodlands Manager, becoming Director of Land Resources in 1982. Upon his retirement in 1992, he became a consulting forester. Active in forestry circles, Bob was a Fellow of the Society of American Foresters, served on its national council, and was elected to its Alabama Division Hall of Fame. He was a former president of the Alabama Forestry Association and the Alabama Forestry Council, and was instrumental in the creation of the Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. In his community, Bob was active in many ways, serving as president of the Autauga County Heritage Association, on the board of AmSouth Bank and as a member of the City of Prattville’s task force on recycling. In 1996, he co-chaired the first steering committee for Leadership Autauga, and was instrumental in jumpstarting the Autauga Area Community Foundation. In his spare time, he was an avid turkey hunter, arrowhead hunter/collector, and creative writer. Through it all, his wife, the former Hazel Lee Branch, has been at his side for 65 years. He is preceded in death by his parents Robert E. Lee, Jr. and Celia K. Lee and daughter Catherine L. Asti. He leaves behind a loving family, including his wife Hazel Lee of Prattville; son Thomas E. and daughter-in-law Linda P. Lee, of Wetumpka; grandchildren, R. Anthony Asti of Prattville, Adriana Nikole Bell (Kevin) of Schertz, TX, John Salzman, Jr. of Cape May Court House, NJ; and Kelly Salzman of Prattville; great grandchildren, Christian Asti of Schertz, TX; Kayla Tatum of Montgomery, AL; Lydia Asti, of Newark, DE; John Salzman, III, of Camden, DE; and Aurora Doyle of Prattville; brother James E. Lee of Kill Devil Hills, NC; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the Autauga Area Community Foundation, the Alabama Forestry Foundation, or First United Methodist Church in Prattville. A visitation will be held on Friday, January 22 at 1 p.m., followed by a celebration of life at 2 p.m. at Ridout's Prattville Chapel. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Prattville. Active Pallbearers will be: Tony Asti, Bobby Gillespie, John McMillan, Don Moore, Emmett Thompson and David Watson