O B Lee

O B Lee, 88, peacefully passed on to be with our Heavenly Father on Tuesday, May 4, 2010. O B was born at home on September 5, 1921, to Linnie and George W. Lee. At that time, the family lived in Shiro, Texas. Growing up, O B attended grammar school at Shiro, Willow Hole School at North Zulch for the mid-school years, and graduated from Madisonville High School in 1938.

He served his country during World War II in the U.S. Army Air Force. After WWII, he worked in Houston for a geophysical company as an electronics technician in a seismograph laboratory. O B decided to go to college and attended Sam Houston State University on the GI Bill. At Sam Houston, O B was editor of the campus newspaper, The Houstonian, earned a B. A. degree in journalism, and later received Sam Houston's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1994. O B enjoyed singing and playing the guitar, mandolin, and banjo. While in college, he was part of a country western band, having appeared on programs a number of times.

While in college, O B met Ella Jean Knight, who would become his beloved wife of 59 years. O B and Jean were married on December 17, 1950, at Calvary Baptist Church in Huntsville, Texas.

After graduation from Sam Houston in 1949, O B began a 34-year career with Humble Oil & Refining (now Exxon Mobil). While at Exxon, O B worked in public relations and was editor of Baytown refinery publications, the Humble Bee and later the Baytown Briefs.

O B was well known as a Baytown photographer, having photographed many events for Exxon Mobil and weddings for Baytown friends. O B held a private pilot's license for many years, enjoyed flying as a pastime, and participating in Baytown Civil Defense.

After retirement from Exxon in 1983, O B continued to enjoy activities in his church and various Masonic organizations, volunteering at the Baytown Police Department, and playing golf.

He was honored to serve as a deacon at Wooster Baptist Church. O B served the Lord in his church as a Sunday School teacher for many years and coordinator of several church mission trips to the Rio Grande Valley, Colorado, and New Mexico.

O B was proud to have been a Mason for more than 50 years in Lodges Goose Creek #1192 and Baytown #1357. He enjoyed membership in Eastern Star Chapters Goose Creek #1192 and Cedar Bayou #11, as well as the Exxon Mobil Baytown retirees.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his infant son Brian Albert Lee, his brothers Gary and William (Bill) Lee, and his nephew Jimmy Lee Upchurch.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ella Jean Lee; daughter Janet Lee Killion and son-in-law Bill Killion of College Station; daughter Dena Ann Lee of Houston; sister Lessie Lee Upchurch of Tomball, Texas; grandson Brenton Lee Killion, college student; nephews Gary Wayne Lee, Ron Lee, Kenneth Lee, and Mickey Upchurch; nieces Doris Lee Dowling and Lisa Upchurch Bodway.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, May 7, 2010 at Navarre Funeral Home. A service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 8, 2010 at the funeral home with Dr. Mack Jones officiating. A graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, May 8, 2010 at the Center Hill Cemetery in Oakhurst, Texas.

Honorary pallbearers are deacons of Wooster Baptist Church and members of Masonic Lodges Goose Creek #1192 and Baytown #1357.

O B was the epitome of everything good and kind. He was a husband, father, and friend of impeccable character and integrity who believed in hard work and fairness. He was a positive thinker and was fully committed to his Lord and his family.

O B's life credo was expressed in his self-composed words, August, 2005: ""I am thankful for the life God has given me, and I am ready to meet whatever the Lord gives me from day to day.""

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wooster Baptist Church Building Fund, 7007 Bayway Drive, Baytown, Texas, or Sterling Municipal Library in Baytown.

The family wishes to express appreciation to Dr. Mack Jones, pastor of Wooster Baptist Church; the members of Wooster Baptist Church; Dr. and Mrs. Christopher Hays; caregivers Sadie Porter and Lorraine Smith; and the Dayspring Class of First Baptist Church, Houston.

""For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."" Ephesians 2:8-10

Arrangements are under the direction of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Drive, Baytown, Texas 77521, (281) 422-8111.