Valla Mae Lee

Valla Mae (Rena) was a devoted daughter, wife, mother and grandmother that lived a life revolving around her family and friends. She was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ and believed the best way to embody God’s love was by nurturing others. She was the only child of Charles and Irene Bonifay and grew up and attended school in Pensacola. Valla Mae met her husband Roy in Pensacola and then began the life of an Army wife. As her husband, Roy, was teaching her to drive near Wrightsville Beach they heard on the car radio that Pearl Harbor was being bombed. Roy was immediately deployed to the Pacific front. Valla Mae, not to be left out of the war effort, headed to Seattle where she worked on the base at Bremerton, WA as she waited for his safe return. After spending her early married life moving around the country as transfers occurred, she settled with Roy back in her hometown of Pensacola after his retirement from the Army. She moved into their house which was built by her husband and father. She made it a home by adopting two daughters, Dara and Charla, whom she loved beyond measure. She was a strong woman who loved fiercely. After losing her beloved husband in her middle 50’s she focused on her family, her friends, and her faith. She was a loyal friend to many and taught her daughters that the true joy of life is in creating relationships with others. If there is a legacy that would be important to Valla Mae, it would be the love of the family and friends she nurtured.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her loving husband, Roy Edward Lee. She is survived by her daughters, Dara Lee Smith of Atlanta, GA and Charla Lee DelMarco of Pensacola, FL, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 21, 2019 at the funeral home with interment to follow at Barrancas National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, www.lls.org.