Ray Anthony Lee

Ray embraced Jesus Christ at an early age and was baptized a St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Sacramento, Ca. Ray attended public schools in Sacramento, Ca and graduated from Sacramento High School in 1977. He was active in sports, playing football, basketball, and baseball. After high school Ray worked as an auto mechanic for several years before starting his career with the State of California Department of Water Resources in 1983, as a Water Resources Technician. He worked in the Division of Flood management at the Sutter Maintenance yard. Ray worked in numerous disasters during his career with DWR, fire, earthquake, flood and drought. During the Firebaugh floods of 1998, Ray held the position of Incident Commander for the night levee inspection crew where he led over 15 people during this assignment. He was promoted to Water Resources Associate Engineer for the Flood Management Division of DWR, Central Region as the State Floodplain Coordinator. He had oversight over the regions National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for numerous years until he retired in 2021. Under the NFIP program, Ray worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region IX office in Oakland. He provided technical data FIRM maps and FEMA regulations to various entities within the communities. Ray also conducted numerous NFIP workshops throughout California, Nevada, and Arizona as the lead presenter during his career. Ray was well respected for his knowledge in NFIP program, but more importantly as person. He earned the respect and appreciation of so many of his peers. Ray received numerous awards under the NFIP program, including: Outstanding Professional Accomplishment Award, NFIP Salutation Award, and Unit Citation from the Floodplain Management Team for his service. Ray’s passions included fishing, gambling, boating, camping, hunting, skiing and golfing. He also enjoyed spending time with family and friends at wineries and casinos. Let’s not forget his EPIC house parties! Dad was a proud father of two girls Rachel Lee and Mandi Lee. He coached their sports teams and acted as their personal trainer. He exposed his beautiful girls to new places to explore, boating was one of his favorite excursions to take us on. During that time on that boat we would have long conversations over libations, learned how to fish, crack jokes and he even taught us how to operate the boat. We also took road trips to the beach. Dad taught his girls many valuable life skills such as the value of family which they are able to pass down to their children. Dad also was a proud grandpa to Aaliyah (Lele), Skylar (Big Girl) and Zaire (Little Man). They were his world. He is proceeded in death by his Robert E. Lee (father), Amanda Lee-Taylor (Eason)(mother), sisters Irene Lee- Reid, Kimberley B. Lee, brothers Robert E. Lee Jr., Bruce Thomas, Raymond Eason. He is survived by his former wife Bettina Lee, daughters Rachel (Frank), Mandi (Brandon), grandchildren, Aaliyah, Skylar and Zaire. Siblings, Leon Taylor, Stevie Lee, Benny Lee (Deborah), Juanita Lee-Castille (Charles), Brenda Lagula (Patro), brother in law Bob Reid (Irene) and a host of nieces and nephews friends and family who all loved him very much!