Lee Russell Mayes, 96, a long-time resident of Washington state, died April 20 in Aberdeen, WA of natural causes. Lee was born September 13, 1922 in Valley Mills, TX to parents Clarence Elden (Pete) Mayes and Mae (Bridges) Mayes.
Lee spent his early years in the Dallas-Fort Worth TX area, being raised during the Great Depression in the Dust Bowl. His family struggled during those times, and Lee and his brothers and sisters lived both with their parents and also spent time at the Sunshine Home orphanage during some of the hardest years. Because of these struggles, it was difficult for the family to maintain contact with each other.
Lee eventually left Texas for Los Angeles, CA, where he joined the Army in 1940. He served during WWII, and was stationed in Aberdeen WA performing coastal defense when he met his future wife, Helen Eva Marie Batinovich (daughter of Joe G. and Eva Batinovich of South Aberdeen). They married in 1944, and shortly after their marriage Lee was shipped to the European Theater where he participated in the D-Day invasion of France. He later served in ordnance units supplying Gen. Patton's Third Army during its relief of U.S. troops at Bastogne, and eventually was part of an invasion force into Germany before returning to the United States after Germany’s surrender.
Lee returned to Aberdeen, where he worked at the former Ellison Pontiac dealership on Park Street before being hired at the downtown Sears and Roebuck store. He transferred to Eugene, OR with Sears, but returned to Aberdeen to establish Mayes Plumbing and Heating in 1950 (featuring a dripping faucet neon sign on Curtis St. in South Aberdeen). He and Helen owned and operated this business until the mid 1960s, when they transferred the business and re-opened as Ocean Shores Plumbing in Ocean Shores, WA, where the business operated until 1969.
He was active in many local organizations, including the Aberdeen Active 20-30 Club, the Aberdeen VFW, St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Ocean Shores Volunteer Fire Department.
While in Ocean Shores, Lee became the volunteer coordinator and later the director of the Pat Boone Golf Classic, eventually working for Wendell-West Corporation of Seattle. After Wendell-West, he worked for Art Linkletter, the Eaton Corporation, and finally the Frawley Corporation of Los Angeles, CA before retiring in 1986.
Lee and Helen divorced after more than 25 years of marriage, and Lee married Olga Davis Johnson in 1972. Upon their retirement, Lee and Olga moved from Los Angeles to Federal Way, WA to be closer to their families who lived in WA. Lee and Olga were both avid golfers and enjoyed travel, including trips to the Great Wall of China and other destinations in Asia, visits to Europe (including Olga's ancestral roots in Norway), various cruises and a two-plus-month trip around the United States. For many years, these two 'snowbirds' wintered in Palm Desert, CA with friends.
After golf, Lee's second hobby was woodworking, making more than 2000 wooden plaques and figurines for family, friends and special occasions. He was also an accomplished cartoonist and enjoyed playing the saxophone, clarinet and organ.
Lee was preceded in death by his brothers Roy Elden Mayes, William Sylvester Mayes, and Clarence Elden Mayes, Jr.; his sisters Peggy Jo Little, Viola Louise Hodges, and Betty (Brinson) Johnston; his wife Olga; his stepdaughter Dixie Johansen and his grandson John Mayes. He is survived by his son Joseph (Nancy) Mayes of Wexford, PA; his daughter Patty (Miles) Beach of Ocean Shores, WA; his stepdaughter Susan (David) Dolacky of Edmonds, WA; his stepdaughter Kris (Bob) Romberg of Arlington, WA; 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
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