Mary Johnson Lee

Mary Effie Johnson Lee, 92, of Monticello, formerly of Warren, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 14, 2019, at Belle View Estates Rehabilitation and Care Center in Monticello. She was born March 26, 1927, the youngest of nine, in Jersey, Arkansas located in southern Bradley County to James Patterson and Annie Irene (Anders) Johnson. Married for 54 years, her husband, James Ory Lee, Jr., preceded her in death on July 11, 2004. Also, preceding her in death were her parents, six brothers; Pete, Joe, Carl, Sam, Jesse, and Robert and two sisters; Mabel Graham and Frances Morgan Holderfield. Mary is survived by her three daughters: Linda Dougherty (Gary) of Byrnes Mill, Missouri, Susan Pennington (Mike) of Monticello, Arkansas, and Becky McNulty (Dennis) of Stafford, Virginia; seven grandchildren; Andrew Dougherty (Kirsten) of Virginia; Ann Dougherty of Alaska; Mary Crowell (David) of Missouri; Michelle Galyean (Seth) of Texas; Laura Hartley (Cody) of Guam; Jordan McNulty (Erica) of Virginia and Molly McNulty of New York and eight great-grandchildren. Her extended family includes many nieces, nephews, and their children. After graduating from Hermitage High School in 1944, Mary and her sister Frances who was called "Hank" went to Ypsilanti, Michigan where they worked at Willow Run Army Air Base Exchange. Upon returning to Arkansas in December 1944, Mary attended Texas State College for Women in Denton, Texas for four semesters. When her father passed away in November 1946, she returned to Jersey to live with her mother and taught elementary school in Banks and Hermitage for almost three years. On December 25, 1949, she married James Ory Lee Jr. and moved to Shreveport, Louisiana where they lived and raised three daughters. While in Shreveport, Mary worked as an oil portrait painter at Larry Robinson Studio. In 1958, Mary and her family moved to Warren. In 1963, she graduated from Arkansas A & M College in Monticello with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Mary's teaching career as a fourth grade teacher with the Warren School District began in 1963 and ended in 1995. As recently as a few months ago, Mary was still reminiscing about her teaching days which she absolutely loved. After retirement, she was involved in the Warren Woman's Club sponsoring the dictionary project for third and fourth graders in Warren and Hermitage schools. She contributed to the Bradley County Veterans Museum by asking family members and friends to send their military photographs and information to be included in the museum. Mary was a member of First United Methodist Church in Warren where she was a long time elementary Sunday School teacher, VBS director and member of United Methodist Women. Beginning in the early 60's, she actually taught Sunday School longer than she taught elementary school. Mary's other interests included traveling and spending time with her grandchildren. Shopping trips, business trips with her husband, Joe and family trips were her favorites. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, October 19, 2019, at Frazer's Chapel in Warren with burial to follow in Holly Springs Cemetery, Hermitage, Arkansas. Visitation will precede the service from 1:30-2 p.m. The service will be conducted by her nephew, Rev. Jim Graham. Organist will be Linda Barrett. Special music will be sung by her grandchildren. Memorials preferred to Bradley County Veterans Museum, 210 North Main Street, Warren, Ark. 71671; First United Methodist Church, 111 East Church Street, Warren, Ark. 71671; or Holly Springs Cemetery, Hermitage, Arkansas, c/o First State Bank of Warren, Hugh Allen Quimby, 104 South Main Street, Warren, Ark. 71671. Online Guestbook www.frazerfuneralhome.com.