Martha Ellen Lee

Martha Ellen Lee

Martha Ellen Lee, age 88, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. She was born Jan. 16, 1926, in Kent, Ohio, the daughter of Raymond W. Cook and Helen M. Bradley Cook. Martha married Thomas M. Lee, Jr. on Aug. 16, 1947, at Kent, Ohio. Because of Tom's service with the United States Air Force, the couple and their family lived at various Air Force bases throughout the United States and Spain. In addition to raising her family, Martha earned an Associate's Degree in early childhood development and worked for several years for the Miami, Okla., Head Start Program. While in Fort Scott, she worked for Wings Pre-school. Later in life, Martha enjoyed painting, and her art was featured in the Presbyterian Village's Art is Ageless Contest. She was a member of Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.

Martha was very proud of her large family. She is survived by her husband, Tom, of the home; and 11 children; Tony Lee and wife, Darla, Las Vegas, Nev., Marti Tuchscherer, Fort Scott, Joan Ehmcke and husband, Rick, Reno, Nev., Jonathan and wife, Anita, Ashville, N.C., Barbara Cameron, Fort Scott, Ginny Dembinski and husband, David, Norman, Okla., Tommy Lee and wife, Anna, Temecula, Calif., Drew Lee, Fort Scott, Carolyn Galantine and husband, Chuck, Gerber, Calif., Teresa Cosens and husband, Brad, Fort Scott, and Sharon Durham and husband, John, Fresno, Calif.; 36 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are three brothers, Robert Cook of Ohio, John Cook of Virginia and Paul Cook of California; and two sisters, Joan Cook of Colorado and Irma Jean Spaeth of Ohio. She was preceded in death by a son, Paul Lee; a son-in-law, Bob Tuchscherer; three brothers, Jim, David and William Cook and a sister, Mary Eileen Hogan.

Father Robert Wachter will conduct the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m.. Saturday, April 12 at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. The rosary will be recited at 10 a.m. on Saturday prior to the mass. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, April 14 at the U.S. National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the St. Mary's School and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com