Floyd Dempsey Lee

FLOYD DEMPSEY LEE, 81, of Roscoe, Illinois, left this earth quietly at home to be with Jesus on February 12, 2013, at 8:05 p.m. The love of his life, Margie, his wife of 60 years, was holding his hand when he left her. He was born in Muldrow, OK, on January 6, 1932, the eldest of 9 children. He married Margie Lea Thompson on March 25, 1952. He had a strong sense of duty about taking care of family and left Oklahoma with his bride headed for Rockford, Illinois, to pursue employment with National Lock Inc. to help support his family in Oklahoma. He worked the night shift for National Lock Inc. for 31-1/2 years, as a roll thread machine operator and setup man until he retired.

Floyd was a young-at-heart kind of guy still riding his bicycle 5 miles a day up until his 80th birthday. He was a quiet, gentle man, with an infectious grin. He loved being outside tending his many islands of flowers on his home’s acre lot and taking care of the various wild birds that visited his yard with feed and bird houses in the springs and summers. He enjoyed watching a good old western with James Stewart, Audie Murphy or John Wayne. His passion though was playing one of his guitars—something he had done since a young boy. In fact, he had traded his pet pig to get his first guitar when he was 9. He had an exceptional natural ear for music and could accompany just about any singer on any song. He was quite the entertainer playing for barn dances early in life as well as church services most all of his life for he enjoyed playing country and southern gospel music whether for just 1 person or 101 people.

He leaves behind his wife, Margie; 4 daughters: Rev. Sharon (Rev. Ross) Miley of Rockford, Marilyn (Paul) DiVenti of Rockford, Judy Lynn Lee of Machesney Park and Rev. Connie (Rev. Brian) Palmer of Loves Park; grandchildren: Dawn (Nate) Withers, Amber Schroeder (Josh Earleywine), Moriah Palmer and Lindsay Palmer; his great grand children: Cassie Bauling and Isaac Withers; 2 brothers: Rev. Jerry (Jana) Lee of TX, Jim (Andrea) Lee of TX ; 6 sisters: Norma (John) Ekey of KS, Betty (Rev. Charles) Hensley of AR, Pat (Bob) Frazier of TX, Dorthy (Jerry) Major of TX, Margie (Mike) Negri of TX, and Jaynell Manuel of TX; 3 half brothers: Michael (Joyce) Lee of OK, Timothy (Vondal) Lee of OK, Dennis (Aaron) Lee of AR; 1 half sister: Denise Samples of OK, and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his father, Clayborn Lee; mother, Gracie Allen Lee; step sister, Gaylene Wheetley, sister-in-law, Pat Lee and brother-in-law Clifford Compton.

There will be a celebration of his life on Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. at Riverside Assembly of God Christian Center, 4242 W. Riverside Blvd, Rockford. Rev. Ross Miley Jr. and Rev. Truman Turner will be officiating. There will be a private family burial on Feb. 22 at 10:00 a.m. at Sunset Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 8800 N. Alpine Road, Machesney Park. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the family in his name to Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine Road, Machesney Park, IL 61115. Condolences may be sent online to: www.sunsetfhmemgardens.com.