Ray Edward Lee

Ray E. Lee, 82, of Kansas City passed away Aug. 2, 2012. Visitation from 10:30am – 12:30pm on Tuesday, Aug. 7th and service beginning at 12:30pm at the McGilley & Sheil Chapel with burial following in Forest Hill Cemetery.

Ray was born in Hume, MO on Aug. 1, 1930 to Clarence & Mildred Lee. He was a lifelong resident of the East Bottoms where he attended Martin Public Scholl & North East High School. Ray was an avid boxer who possessed a great left hand, jab & hook. From ages 11-16 he won the City Title and won the KC Golden Gloves Title when he was 16 & 17. In 1948, he turned professional & fought 40 fights as a middleweight. In 1952 while in the US Army he was the SW Middleweight Champion. Ray served in the Army during the Korean Was as a Para Trooper Special Forces & was Honorably Discharged in 1953 as a Sergeant. He was then employed as a teamster for the American Freight System and an active member of the Masonic Lodge in North KC # 659. Throughout his life, Ray maintained his interest boxing & was proud to present the Clarence Lee Memorial Trophy, named after his father, for the most sportsmen like conduct each year. Ray was fond of the following poem that his father wrote & it hung above the door to the Don Bosco Boxing Club at 6th St. & Cambell in KCMO. “Thru this door pass the best agency, people in town. We give a little more, try a little harder, think a little smarter, work a little longer. Our secret; it takes only this little extra to be the very best.”

Ray was preceded in death by his son, Stuart & is survived by his companion, Becky Hansen; his children, Ray A. Lee, Terree Bland (Mike) & Machele Waugh (Brian) and 5 grandchildren. Memorial contributions to Greater KC Golden Gloves Association 901 SE 12th St Lee’s Summit MO 64081. Condolences to www.mcgilleysheil.com.