Ada Lee was born in Louisville on November 14, 1929. A graduate of Valley High School in June of 1947, she married Edward Harold Kane on May 29, 1976. Ada Lee retired from South Central Bell, as a clerk in the computer department, in 1976 after 18 years of service. She owned and operated the Ada Lee’s School of Dance and Wishing Well Ceramics on Frankfort Avenue for 42 years. Ada Lee taught hundreds of children and adults tap and jazz dance, including the orphans who lived at the Masonic Homes of Kentucky.
In retirement, Ada Lee dedicated every ounce of energy to others, volunteering for numerous charitable organizations including Kosair Charities, Louisville Deaf Oral School, Kentucky School for the Blind, Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies, and the Kentucky Center for the Arts. She raised funds for many organizations, ensuring that the lives of those served would be brighter. Her volunteerism will continue forever through the gifts that will live on in her honor.
Ada Lee was a member of Crescent Hill Baptist Church for more than 50 years. An original member of the Union Barrack-Ades that started in 1942 and continued for 25 years, she was the choreographer and dance director - entertaining servicemen and raising funds for charitable organizations until 1991. Ada Lee was Past Matron of Crescent Hill Chapter #265 O.E.S. She served as President of the Louisville Alzheimer’s Chapter. Her memberships included the Bop Club, Barnett Owen Society, Masonic Home Alumni Association, and Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.
The recipient of the 2001 Bell Award, Ada Lee’s generosity for outstanding community service was recognized by the Spirit of Louisville Foundation. Her other recognitions included: the Butterfly Award in 2006 from the Louisville Deaf Oral School, Kosair Charities’ inaugural Calling All Angels Award in 2012, and the American Institute for Public Service’s Jefferson Award for recognition of outstanding public service. Ada Lee was crowned Ms. Kentucky Senior America in 1998 and served as Director for the organization in 1999 and 2000.
She is survived by a first cousin, John Ed Grawemeyer, two sisters-in law, several nieces and nephews and several great-nieces and nephews.
Ada Lee was preceded in death by her husband Ed; parents Ernest and Ada Grawemeyer; and two brothers, Tom and Phil “Cookie” Grawemeyer.
A service to Celebrate the life of Ada Lee, will be held at 11 am Wednesday, at Crescent Hill Baptist Church, 2800 Frankfort Ave. Visitation will be 3-7 pm Tuesday, at Arch L. Heady-Cralle Funeral Home 2428 Frankfort Avenue.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may go to any of the charities that Ada Lee volunteered – Kosair Charities, Masonic Homes of Kentucky, Louisville Deaf Oral School, Kentucky School for the Blind, Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies, or the Kentucky Center for the Arts.
Special thanks and much love to Dr. Leela Bhupalam for her constant encouragement and support and the Masonic Homes of Kentucky for their loving care.
Always remembering, “What you do for yourself dies with you. What you do for others lives on and becomes immortal.”
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