Helen (Billie) Louise Lee

Helen (Billie) Louise Lee of Kansas City, Missouri passed away January 17, 2018 at home, surrounded by family, at the age of 105 years. She was born to Leslie Levi Wilson and Annie Ellen View Wilson in Saint Joseph, Missouri on March 15, 1912; the eighth of nine sisters and one brother. She married James (Jim) H. Lee on June 5, 1929 and was married to him until his death in 1988.

In 1947 she went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and worked for them until her retirement in 1973. After retiring they bought an Airstream Travel Trailer and joined the Airstream Club. They traveled several years with the club and would winter in Zapata, Texas. After Jim’s death she sold the Airstream and purchased a mobile home in Zapata where she stayed until moving back to Kansas City in 1994. She traveled to several European Countries; Germany, Ireland, and many more, but her favorite trip of all was her trip with granddaughter, Pam to Australia for her 90th birthday. She lived on her own until 2015 when she moved in with her daughter, Carole. She was a member of the Eastern Star, Pioneer Club, and Claycomo Baptist Church. They raised 5 children and fostered some for a time.

She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 60 years; sons, James Thomas Lee and Carl Timothy Lee; daughter, Donna Jean Lee Rule; brother, Ira Otis Wilson; sisters, Edna Ludema Linder, Lucille Lee Burlington, Ethel Wilson, Nellie Pearl, Vimont Carter, Elsie Grace Christian, Gladys Margarel Blackman, Ruby Mae Dutcher, and Alice Ann Beilfuss; a granddaughter, two great grandsons and six great-great grandbabies. She is survived by son, Jerry Wilson Lee (Judith); daughter, Carole Ann Aubrey; daughter-in-law, Sharon Lee; and 235 grands, greats, great-greats, and great-great-great grandchildren, as well as several nephews and nieces. She lived a long full life. She could sit and tell stories of the roaring 20’s, the great depression, always telling everyone to save and put back money for a rainy day. She loved to read and after losing her eyesight, listened to audible books. She was known for her potato rolls and apple pies. She taught several of her granddaughters how to sew and if it wasn’t right we had to rip it out and do over until it was. Every member of her family had a special place in her heart. She loved them all and she was loved by all. She will be missed but, we all knew she ready to go home.