Thomas Barton Lee

1954 - 2024

Thomas Barton Lee, "Tommy Lee," age 69, was born on Dec. 3, 1954 in Towanda, Pa. He was called upon to unite with our Lord on Aug. 4, 2024.
Tommy met Janette (Haydon) in Tawas City, where they then married at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church on June 2, 1973. They built their home on Plank Road where they parented their three children, Korrin, Adam, and Eean.
Tommy worked as a laborer for Alpena Candy, Grabow's, and Tawas Tool where he retired in 2015. However, he continued his love for work with "Great Lakes Signs" where he lettered and painted countless signs, billboards, cars, and boats.
Tommy also spent his time serving in the Knights of Columbus, the Eagles Club, the Elks Club, and coaching Little League teams. He enjoyed time outdoors where many remember golfing, fishing, hunting, and skiing with him. He loved the lake life just as much as he loved road trips on the Harley.
Tommy was always up for a new project, a local fixer upper, road trip, or a day in the kitchen baking or canning salsa. His kids and grandkids remember their time with "Papa" by playing basketball in the driveway, planting trees and gardening in the yard, spending all day in the kitchen baking cookies, playing Wii Sports on the projector, and pounding nails out in the garage workshop.
Tommy was an amazing husband and father, who was loved by everyone he met.
He was preceded in death by both of his parents, Robert and Eleanor Lee; his two brothers Robert and John Lee; and his beloved wife of 38 years, Janette Lee, who passed in September of 2011.
He is survived by his siblings, Bill (Dottie Jean) of New Hampshire, Mary Secules of Florida and Helen Wilcox of Florida; children Korrin (Curtis) Traska of Wisconsin, Adam (Michelle) Lee of West Virginia, and Eean Lee of Michigan; his grandchildren Kaitlyn and Steven Lee of West Virginia, Julian and Eli Traska of Wisconsin were the twinkle in his eyes; and his best friend and wonderful companion, Maureen "Mo" Brown.
Visitation will be on Aug. 17 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Holy Family Church in East Tawas. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. and a cemetery service to be held after the mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery in Tawas City. A Celebration of Life will be held at "The Collective," 821 Newman St. (formerly Knights of Columbus Hall) in East Tawas at approximately 3 p.m.