Father Jim Lee

It was a blessed day on January 1, 1948 when James Edward Lee was born to John E Lee and Ruth E Lee in Chicago, IL. He joined a family with four children including Patricia , George ,Robert, and Rita.

Jimmy was baptized at Saint Blase Church in Argo, Illinois. He attended Catholic schools, including Sacred Heart Elementary School in Chicago IL for grades 1 through 6; and Saint Linus in Oak Lawn, IL for grades 7 and 8. It was in the 7th grade that a Maryknoll missionary priest came and spoke. Jim’s vocation to the priesthood blossomed. He then entered Maryknoll Junior Seminary in Chesterfield, Missouri in September 1960. He had felt the call to the priesthood since the 3rd grade. Thus, his long journey to the priesthood had begun.

After high school, he attended Maryknoll College in Glen Ellyn, IL. As Fr. Jim continued his seminary formation between the years of 1969 and 1975, he completed chaplaincy training at Boston City Hospital, took his first vows with Maryknoll, served in Tanzania the first time, and returned to Maryknoll to finish his studies.

On May 17, 1975, he was ordained into the priesthood for the Maryknoll Fathers (The Catholic Foreign Society of America) in Maryknoll NY.

From 1975 to 1986, he served in Tanzania twice, studied theology at Loyola College in Baltimore, MD, and worked with Maryknoll seminarian formation.

In September 1986, Fr Jim began his priesthood in the Archdiocese of Seattle at the invitation of Fr. Phil Wallace who had served with him in Tanzania. It was with Fr. Phil that he first served at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Burien, WA. In July 1990, Fr Jim began serving as pastor of the Church of the Assumption in Bellingham, WA, where he remained until 1997. He was then assigned to Saint Michael Parish in Olympia, WA, where he served as pastor for the past 27 years. He was also recently installed as pastor for Saint Edward Parish in Shelton, WA.

While at Saint Michael Parish, he was instrumental in nurturing Stewardship as a Way of Life for the parish community. A central part of his ministry was the Beatitudes. He mentored 19 parochial vicars, many of whom are still active priests in the Archdiocese of Seattle.

Parishioners will remember him for his love of Jesus, but also for his love of cars, bike riding, skiing, driving, traveling, and leading many groups on pilgrimages. He loved to be with his people at dinners, shows, school activities, and family events. He spent many years living at Saint Martin’s Abbey, becoming friends with the brothers and priests who resided there. It was also during this time that he became a Benedictine oblate. In 2022, Father Lee received an honorary doctorate degree from Saint Martin’s University for his “positive impact on the greater community” through his leadership and focus on Catholic education.

Trips with his best friends Fr Gary Zender and Bishop Joe Tyson (known as “the three amigos”) were highlights of his life, as they continued to travel, even with an ALS diagnosis. Fr Jim was diagnosed with ALS in 2017. He formed a support group of 11 parishioners, along with Fr Gary, who all helped him along the way, as the disease progressed. The support team served him with humility and gratitude. When asked how he was doing, he would always respond “I am blessed.” He served as a true example of how to live with hardship and suffering with gratitude and grace. He touched more people than even he would ever know.

Fr Jim Lee passed away at Providence St. Peter Hospital on Sunday, December 22, 2024, surrounded by his sister Rita, niece Tara and friends.

He is survived by his sister Rita from Syracuse, Nebraska, two nephews, Robert “Robbie” Lee and Michael Lee, two nieces Cindy Lee and Tara Zeeb, and seven grandnieces and grandnephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Lee and Ruth Lee, two brothers and sisters-in-law George (Joyce) and Bob (Beverly), and sister Pat.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the ALS Association.