John Lee McCormick

Little Johnny Lee first opened his eyes to the light of day on April 19, 1942. His Daddy and Mother were John William McCormick and Ella Lee McCormick, who loved him dearly. Johnny went off to first grade in Gotebo to become the prize fighter of the school yard. As he grew, his father helped him become a contest winner in the FFA. He had a passion for pitching baseball and his father caught the ball for him until it was too fast for him to catch. As a result they had a winning team.

After high school, he went to Southwestern State College and Oklahoma University. He majored in girls until mother had had enough and he had to get serious enough to earn a Civil Engineering Degree. Along the way he found his girl, Betty Reimer, in Cordell, Oklahoma. They married May 30, 1964 and had five sons. He was a wonderful father who tried to teach his sons everything he knew while loving them with all his heart. John worked as a Civil Engineer for the State of California, and as a City and County Engineer for many small cities and counties in Oklahoma. He continued engineering in Oregon and Washington where he completed his career with the best job he ever had. He enjoyed it to the last calculation and approval. John worked too long and too hard, which took a toll on his heart. For the last five years he’s been engineering his health trying to get well. He won the battle by taking the prize, heaven itself, where he is now rejoicing.

His father, John William went before him in 1957. Betty, his wife and five sons, John William, James Anthony, Andrew David, Matthew Aaron and Joseph Nathanael are staying behind to carry on with life. He also has two daughters-in-law, Onnaise and Michelle and eight grandchildren who are Sage, Sapphira, Eiley, John William, Elijah, Jaelyn, David and Tzietel. His mother Ella McCormick, his sister Rita, brother Donald and spouses all live in Oklahoma. Many nieces and nephews complete the immediate family.

Johnny Lee closed his eyes to the light of day at his home in Salem, Oregon on May 25, 2011. To God be the glory for a life well lived.