Leslie Luttrell Sollee

1939 - 2025

Leslie Sollee, passed away peacefully on August 19, 2025 in Memphis TN. She was born on November 26, 1939 in Memphis TN. She was 85 years old.

Leslie lived a full and happy life. She was a travel enthusiast and visited many places throughout her life. Some of the most memorable were several cruises she organized and led for friends, trips to Ireland and England with Jim, Europe with her kids, Egypt with son Carl, Australia with sons Patrick and Carl, Alaska with son Patrick, Colorado and New Mexico with friends Mary and Kay, the Kentucky Derby as a child with her friend Martha, Orcus Island with Jim and friends Linda and BB, Greece with sister Hobby, a river trip with sister Jane and family, Disney World and Jacksonville with her young children and first husband years ago, Mexico and Destin with family, trips to New Orleans by train as a young girl with her wonderful parents Carl and Marie. One of the last places she visited was Dauphin Island and it brought back great memories for her as she used to travel there as a child with her father.

Leslie was strong-willed and a fighter. She survived life threatening events, including multiple strokes, a life-threatening car wreck (where the doctors expected her to not make it), a broken neck, heart aortic dissection, and finally for the past 7 months, blindness. Although she had these and many other life challenges, she was a good, well-wishing and supportive friend to many and a great mom to her sons Carl and Pat.

Leslie grew up in Memphis and attended St. Agnes Academy for high school. After one year at University of Oklahoma, she graduated from Memphis University (State at the time). Professionally she was a grade schoolteacher at St. Dominics, taught literacy to adults, a travel agent, and travel agency owner (Travel Trends). Most of all she was a great mom.

During retirement, she spent a great deal of time at her family farmhouse in Covington TN with her devoted and loving partner Jim Johnson. Jim and Leslie renovated and expanded the house (built in 1850s). As a little girl, Leslie spent the summers and weekends at this house in the care of her much-missed grandparents, Mac and Willamina. It was a lovely and lively place, with 8 cats, along with her precious Daisy Dog (who died in 2019). Being in the country there were also cattle and wild animals, including racoons, deer, snakes and the occasional skunk!

Three weeks before her passing, she enjoyed a fantastic night out with her sons, daughter-in-law, granddaughter, and boyfriend Jack Ward. She was always excited to hear what was going on with her granddaughter Rosalie, and was able to attend many of her activities when she visited Dallas. She was grateful she lived long enough to see many of those.

Leslie was preceded in death by her wonderful parents, Carl and Marie Luttrell, her long-time and devoted partner Jim Johnson, her first born child, Baby Neyle, her sister Jane Luttrell and her sister Jean Luttrell (Hobby), extended family members Sue, Frank, Buddy, Andy and Karen Glankler and many great friends, including Mary Canale, Betty and Louis Roman, CJ and Louis Allen and Augusta Talley. She is survived by her son Carl Sollee, son Patrick Sollee, daughter-in-law Rachel Sollee, granddaughter Rosalie Sollee, first husband Neyle Sollee, nephew Mike Grogan, several Glankler and Luttrell cousins and extended family members.

The funeral mass will be offered for her at St. Peter's Catholic Church, 190 Adams, on September 2, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., with a visitation at 9:00 a.m. She will be buried at Calvary Cemetery following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to St. Agnes Academy in Memphis, TN, Memphis Mission Union, or the charity of your choice in Leslie's memory.