Lee Hooks

Born in Cotula, Tennesse in 1925, Okal Lee Hooks lived the life of the greatest generation. His early life centered around the coal mining country of Everts, Kentucky where he lived until he enter the Army in 1943 at the age of 18 to serve in World War II. He served overseas in Europe in 1944 and 1945 participating in the campaigns at Normandy, France, Rhineland, Germany, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. He continued to serve in occupied Germany in 1946 and 1947 and after 1954 lived in England for several years as part of the Air Force.

Lee met his future wife, Norma Knight, in a Cheyenne, Wyoming Post Exchange snack shop in 1950 and they married in 1951. Lee entered the Air Force in 1950 and continued to serve his country until 1965, when he retired as a Technical Sergeant. During his 20 years of service, Lee received 8 decorations and awards, including a World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, and Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. After leaving active service he went to work for Boeing in the Aerospace and Defense program as an electrical mechanical engineer till 1987. He worked on the Lunar Orbiter program and was able to feel the pride of watching his work enter space, setting in motion the golden age of space exploration. Lee and his wife were active in the Church of God and were involved members in the Skyway Church of God. After retirement, Lee and his wife, Norma, traveled the United States until they settled back down in their home town of Federal Way, Washington in 2012. Lee enjoyed fishing, traveling, inventing, tinkering and fixing anything he thought needed improvement.

Lee is survived by his wife, Norma Hooks, 4 children - Teresa Wilson and her husband Cary, Sandy Huntington and her husband Rick, Patty Wolfe, and Rick Hooks and his wife Valerie - preceded in death by one daughter, Susan Paura; he has 12 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Instead of flowers, the family requests that all donations go to the American Cancer Society.