Jimmie Lee

Jimmie Dee Lee, 85, Springfield, formerly of Rogersville, passed away Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at Mercy Hospital, Springfield.
He was born November 29, 1936 in Springfield, Missouri, the son of the late Arch and Opal (Hart) Lee. He was united in marriage January 4, 1957 to Geraldine Sue "Jeri" Ferrell. He was also preceded in death by his In-Laws, Sherman and Bobbie Ferrell; his sister, Barbara Brooks; his brother, Donnie Lee; and a nephew, Darren Lee.
He attended Springfield Public Schools, graduating from Central Senior High School in 1955. He was a U.S. Navy veteran serving from 1956 - 1958. Following his military service, he and his wife Jeri moved to the Rogersville area.
He went into the lime and fertilize hauling business with his father-in-law for the next 18 years. In 1976 he purchased Seeburg and Quality Muffler Shops and was in the muffler business until 1989 when he took over his wife's family business, Silver Bell Mobile Home and RV Park. He was also a licensed funeral director and member of the Elks Lodge No. 409 in Springfield and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Springfield.
Jim and Jeri doubled the size of the mobile home park, sold the business, retired and moved to Springfield in 2011.
Jim enjoyed working on and restoring trucks, playing golf and traveling, but his greatest joy was his participation in the several Masonic organizations that he was honored to be a part of.
He was a 63 year member of Henderson Lodge No. 477 in Rogersville, where he served as Worshipful Master in 1962 and 1963; and served as Treasurer from 1987 - 2015. He completed a four-year term, 1991-1995 on the Masonic Home Board where he served as Administration Committee Chairman and presided as President of the Board during 2002. In 1995 he was appointed to the Advancing Line of the Grand Lodge of A.F.& A.M. of the state of Missouri and served as Grand Master in 2003.
He was a member of the York Rite Bodies and Red Cross of Constantine in Springfield; and a 50 year member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Joplin, where he was a 32nd Degree, honored with the K.C.C.H., the 33rd Degree Inspector General Honorary and the Royal Order of Scotland; and a 63 year member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
In 1962 he joined the Abou Ben Adhem Shriners where he was active in the Christian County Shrine Club, ABA Clown Unit, a member of the Board of Trustees from 1974 – 1976, elected Potentate in 1985, served as Recorder from 1988 – 2001 and 2006 – 2010, and was made Recorder Emeritus of the Imperial Shrine, and Representative Emeritus to the Shrine Imperial Council and served as Imperial Chaplin of Shriners International in 2006, and was a member and past director of the Royal Order of Jesters, Court 73 in Springfield.
He also held many other titles and honors within the Masonic Fraternities too numerous to mention.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jeri; a son, Jeff Lee and his wife Melissa; two grandsons, Jared Lee and his husband Patrick McPherson; and Jordan Lee; a brother-in-law, Junior Brooks; a sister-in-law, Marilyn Lee; two nephews, Randy Brooks and his wife Wendy, Kent Hacker and his wife Terri; three nieces, Rhonda Edie and her husband John David, Sundee Leingang and her husband John, and Lori Kahler and her husband Jeff; several great-nieces and nephews, great-great-nieces and nephews and many, many friends.
When introducing Jimmie, a Past Grand Master paraphrased the statement made by the late Will Rogers, saying that he "had never met a man who didn't like Jimmie Lee."
A visitation will be held from 1:00 – 3:00 pm, Sunday, November 20, 2022, with funeral services and Masonic services following at 3:00 p.m. at J.D. Lee and Sons Funeral Home, Rogersville.
Private burial will be Monday, November 21, 2022 at Rivermonte Memorial Gardens, Springfield.
In lieu of flowers the family strongly request memorial donations to the Masonic Home of Missouri, Masonic Museum and Library, 6033 Masonic Drive, Ste A, Columbia, MO 65202 or the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque Preservation Association, 601 St. Louis St, Springfield, MO 65806.