RUBIE LEE Obituary

Rubie J. Lee Was born Nov. 16, 1915 to Nellie and Dell Holbrook in Braddyville, IA, and traveled to heaven on Dec. 20th, 2010 in Everett, WA. She loved life, her family, traveling, and playing bridge. She was a bright and shining star and will be our matriarch up above. She graduated from Clarinda High School in Clarinda, IA in 1932, and married her life's love, Robert C. Lee, Sr., that same year. They worked as ward attendants at the Iowa State Hospital in Clarinda and at the Colorado State Hospital in Pueblo, CO, then obtained jobs at Ft. Lewis, WA just before WWII. Rubie later became a staff car driver and drove Gen. Wainwright in a victory parade in Tacoma. After the war, she worked at Selden's Furniture Store in Tacoma as a saleswoman and interior decorator for many years. Rubie was a victim in a tour plane crash on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1963, and shortly after they bought a condominium in Waikiki. During the Boeing layoffs in the early 1970s, she and Robert moved to Hawaii permanently, and eventually became the resident managers of the building. When Robert passed away in 1991, she moved to Mukilteo, WA to be near her family and resided there for many years. She is survived by her children, Robert C. Lee, Jr. of Rosenburg, TX, Marilyn D. Fisken of Brier, WA, Brainard E. Lee of Everett, WA, and Roger H. Lee of Auburn, WA. She was predeceased by her husband and by infant daughter Carolyn B. Lee in 1939. Also surviving are siblings Violette Elliott of Des Moines, IA, Bette Tatum of Honolulu, Katie Miner (Bob) of Highland, CA, and her only brother, Jack Holbrook (Nora), of Tacoma, WA. No services are planned at this time Mom, we love and will miss you more than we can say.

Published by News Tribune (Tacoma) on Jan. 19, 2011.
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Heaven’s gain is our loss. From over all the years, I have too many memories of Rubie to list, but a favorite one is our family’s visit to her and Bob in Hawaii to celebrate my folks’ Golden Wedding Anniversary. Then, for me the most poignant memory is when she sang “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” at my dad’s memorial service in 2003. So lovely.

When I was a child I always thought Rubie was so beautiful (glamorous!), and when she was around life always became a little more interesting - a little bit of fizz got added – and that never changed. It has been a privilege to know her & I treasure her memory.

Kathryn Ellingson

January 21, 2011

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