Richard "Dick" Dee

1939 - 2022

Richard "Dick" Dee
March 22, 1939 - January 14, 2022
Cary, North Carolina - Richard "Dick" Kenneth Dee, 82, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 14, 2022, in Cary, NC. He was born on March 22, 1939, in Ann Arbor, MI, to the late Thomas and Catherine (Sowinski) Dee.
Following his 1957 graduation from Sexton High School in Lansing, MI, Dick earned a Bachelor's Degree in Landscape Architecture from Michigan State University where he also took pride in playing trombone in the Spartan Marching Band. He then attended the University of Michigan where he earned a Master's Degree.
During the 1970's, he was a partner in Johnson & Dee, a landscape architecture and urban design firm located in Avon, CT. Dick's career also took him to Fort Lauderdale, FL and Wilmington, NC, working for EDSA, Inc., before settling in Durham, NC and finally Cary, NC as a freelance design and graphics consultant.
Dick was passionate about making his home beautiful and spent much of his free time tending to his perennial gardens and working on many yard and home improvements. He also was a talented watercolor artist and enjoyed singing in a barbershop quartet.
Dick is survived by his brother, Lynwood Dee (Janet) of Daytona Beach Shores, FL, daughter Linda Spirko (Bill Burnette) of Westfield, MA, and son Richard Dee, Jr. (Chris) of Charlotte, NC. He also leaves behind three granddaughters, Jessica Spirko of Los Angeles, CA, Emma Ullmann (Matthew) of Granby, CT, and Peyton Dee (fiance' Dylan) of Charlotte, NC.
Dick's family would like to extend thanks to the staff of LiveWell Assisted Living in Cary, NC for their loving care during the past two years.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org) in Dick's name. Memories and condolences can be left at www.wakefuneral.com.