Jeffrey James Lee

Jeffrey J. Lee, age 68, passed away February 24, 2025. Jeff was a loving husband and father who loved the outdoors. Jeff was happiest in a garage turning wrenches or in the wild behind a rifle, drawing a bow, or casting a rod. Jeff was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona with his mom, dad, and twin sister, Jenni. He graduated from Cortez High School in 1974 and married his high school sweetheart Nancy in October 1975. For nearly 50 years Jeff and Nancy provided a household full of love, good times, laughter, tears and unbending support for each other. Jeff and Nancy together were a perfect example of letting love conquer all, even when things get tough.
Professionally, Jeff was the epitome of hard work and dedication, rising from a position in the mail room at the local electric utility in Phoenix to an electrical and instrumentation apprenticeship in Farmington, NM with the same utility and on through various positions of growing responsibility in plant maintenance and operations at several plants around the state of Arizona and eventually retired as the Plant Manager of a gas/oil fired power plant outside of Tucson, Arizona after serving 34 years with the company. Jeff then continued his contribution to the power generation industry working as a contractor in solar construction all over the U.S., eventually accepting a full-time position with a major Developer/Owner in Nashville, Tennessee as Director of Solar Construction and Safety. Jeff served in that role for another 7 years before officially retiring again.
Jeff was regularly active in his community throughout his life; serving as a volunteer firefighter (eventually fire marshal), a hunter safety instructor and a dedicated volunteer in multiple local 4-H clubs with his kids. Jeff could be friends with anyone it seemed, building lasting friendships across the country and was always looking to have a good time and help others. He gave everything he could to his family to provide for their happiness and teach them some of the most important lessons in life.
Jeff was always a desert rat at heart, but he and Nancy truly enjoyed their years in the Music City for sure, taking in the sights and sounds as much as possible.
Jeff passed peacefully in the ICU at Centennial Hospital in Nashville after complications resulting from a serious battle with flu and pneumonia. Jeff had been cancer-free for nearly a year after battling esophageal cancer when he got sick with flu.
Preceded in death by his mother, Sherrill Lee. Jeff is survived by his wife, Nancy Lee; daughter, Stacia Ely; sons, Robert M. (Robynn) Lee and Jason (Stephanie) Lee; father, Robert J. Lee; sister, Jennifer (Bill) Bradley; 5 grandchildren, Courtney (Stacia), Landon and Kensey (Robert), Peyton and Collin (Jason).
Rest easy Jeff, for you should know that you will be deeply missed by all the people who loved you dearly!
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the American Cancer Society, cancer.org, or the National Wild Turkey Federation, nwtf.org.