Thomas "Tom" Davis Lee passed away June 21, 2016, at Hospice of Eastern Idaho Hospice House in Ammon, Idaho, from malignant melanoma.
Tom was born Sept. 5, 1946, in Bostic, N.C., to Hubert Davis Lee and Annie Mae "Lizzie" (Watts) Lee. Tom attended Bostic Elementary School for grade first through fourth. The family moved to Forest City, N.C., where Tom went to school for grades fifth through twelfth. Tom was the student government president at East High School and graduated with honors.
He began college at North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C., but was drafted into the U.S. Army in October 1966. He served as a medic at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, and at Fort McPherson, Ga. He served two years active duty until 1968 and was honorably discharged after six years of service in the inactive reserves.
Tom married Bonnie Sue Morgan on Oct. 19, 1968, in Clarkston, Ga. They had been married for almost 48 years and had two children and three grandchildren. Tom continued his education at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). He received his Bachelor of Science degree with the highest honors and his Master of Science degree and earned the Best Engineering Thesis Award in systems engineering and operations research. He was a "helluva engineer."
He worked at Fulton County Health Department in the Air Pollution Control Section. After graduating from Georgia Tech, he accepted a position at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as a traveling inspector and later as a senior resident inspector at Nuclear Fuel Services in Erwin, Tenn., for 11 years, where he was active in the United Methodist Church, Kiwanis Club and served on the YMCA Board of Directors. In 1989, Tom accepted a position with B&W Naval Nuclear Fuels Division (NNFD) in Lynchburg, Tenn. Tom stayed with Babcock & Wilcox until his retirement June 1, 2013. During his tenure at B&W, he worked at Rocky Flats, Colo.; at the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls; and at Portsmouth, Ohio.
Tom is survived by his wife, Bonnie Lee of Idaho Falls; son, Morgan Lee of Carroll, Ohio; daughter, Wendy Anzaldua, and husband, Mike, of Idaho Falls; grandchildren, Mary Lee, Calvin Eitel and William Winterbottom; sisters, Norma Bradley of Elizabethton, Tenn., and Dorothy Lee of Forest City, N.C.; and brothers, John Jeffrey Lee, and wife, Becky, and James Michael Lee, both of Forest City.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his eldest sister, Barbara Lee of Rutherfordton, N.C.
There will be a visitation and viewing from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today, June 26, at Buck-Miller-Hann Funeral Home, 825 E. 17 St., in Idaho Falls. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, also at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will follow at Ammon Cemetery.
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Sponsored by Buck-Murphy Funeral Home & Cremation Services (formerly Buck Miller Hann).
Pat and I were sad to hear of Tom's death last week.
We were pleased that you sent the obituary to the Lynchburg paper as we might not have heard about his passing for some time. The last time we saw you and Tom was in 1999 when Richard was helping with the transition to the Bechtel-BWXT management contract.
We will always remember the good times we all had with The Wine Tasters group in Lynchburg, and wish you and your family the best of luck in your future lives without Tom.
May he rest in peace.
Richard Beauregard
June 29, 2016
I will always remember Tom Lee as being a very kind and generous man. A great provider who loved his family unconditionally and was always willing to help them succeed in any way he could. Thoughts and prayers to all of you. I am truly sorry for your loss. God Bless.
Brenda Little
June 26, 2016
Roland Morgan
June 23, 2016
Bonnie,
James and I were saddened to hear of Tom's passing. May you feel the comfort and consolation of God's love during this time of grief. God bless all you and your family.
James and Mary Jane Holder
June 23, 2016
Bonnie, so sorry of hearing of Tom's passing. Have always cherished our times together at CUMC especially of the musical programs such as the Hee Haw show put on for the the talent show where he and Chaney were doing the Hager brothers and all the pairs and spares parties. And especially all the effort to get Robin and I together. Ours prayers are with you and the kids. Bob and Robin Lafever
Bob Lafever
June 23, 2016
Bonnie,my heart goes out to you and your sweet family. God bless and keep you all. You are in my prayers
Karen Acree Norris
June 23, 2016
Thomas Lee blessed me with the honor of being his brother-in-law. He was a most impressive man in all ways. He graced his speech with a wry sense of humor and bonhomie. His mastery of systems engineering astounded me. He assumed public, church, and civic duties with enthusiasm and effectiveness. Tom served the United States of America during a difficult moment in American life and did so with honor and proper zeal. He treated my father kindly and with bemusement. With me personally, he was generous beyond reason.
Tom loved his children and grandchildren and nurtured their development and flourishing. He shared his days with my beloved little sister Bonnie. He leaves us with a fresh engineer, his delightful and gifted grandchild Mary Elizabeth. His death from a dreadful illness at a relatively young age leaves each of us short but with fond memories and deep respect. His work ethic surpassed that of anyone else I have known. He kept his counsel but you knew he thought widely and deeply. I miss him.
Ted Michael Morgan
June 23, 2016
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26
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Buck-Murphy Funeral Home & Cremation Services825 E 17th Street, Idaho Falls, ID 83404
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27
11:00 a.m.
Buck-Murphy Funeral Home & Cremation Services825 E 17th Street, Idaho Falls, ID 83404
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Buck-Murphy Funeral Home & Cremation Services825 E 17th Street, Idaho Falls, ID 83404
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