Shirley A. Lee

Shirley Ann Lee, our beloved mother, Nana, sister and friend, passed away Sunday April 3rd after a courageous 42 day battle at Northeast Baptist Hospital in San Antonio. She was born Dec. 18, 1944 in San Antonio to the late Monroe and Roselyn (McLean) Classen. Shirley graduated from Macarthur HS with the Class of 1963. Over the years she spoke fondly of her schoolgirl days and the many friends she had as well as how much she enjoyed attending Macarthur HS reunions. She grew up with her siblings on Redland Road on their families section of the Classen Ranch. Shirley often spoke about her days cleaning the chicken house, helping take care of her siblings, and all the other fun stuff you get to do while living in the country. We believe her love of family, nature, gardening, cooking and flowers were all developed during this time. For those who knew Shirley, they know all of those passions to be close to her heart. We also know she was tough as nails. She was a tireless worker that fought for everything that she ever had in life. These strengths were balanced with an immeasurable love for her family, a fun-loving attitude, great humor and always being the life of the party. She was a tall, fair skinned, South Texas beauty with beautiful blue eyes, an unforgettable smile and irrepressible charm. A few years after HS graduation those eyes caught the attention of a young Air Force man in training here in San Antonio named John Lee. Somehow he convinced her to move with him back to upstate New York upon completion of his service. For a girl who grew up with no air conditioning in the South TX heat, the cold winters of Syracuse, Buffalo and Watertown NY were quite a change. She was embraced and loved by all of John’s family and has always expressed her love of his parents and sisters. After a brief stint in San Francisco in 1967 and 1968, they made their way back to Syracuse to be married. On Dec. 29, 1969 her first son Mark Alan Lee was born. He was delivered to her in a large red Christmas stocking that is still in use today. Then on Sept. 29, 1972 her second son Todd Alan Lee was born. This brought her tremendous joy and was the beginning of a lifelong dedication and loving devotion to her two sons. This presence and love will be sorely missed but she provided enough in her days to last many lifetimes. Shortly after Todd’s birth, the family moved back to San Antonio where she raised her boys and worked as a legal secretary at prominent local firms. Over the next 35 years she developed very special bonds and friendships with many people that will last forever. In Shirley’s spare time from work and family everyone knows that she could never get enough of her favorite hobbies. These included a 30 year love affair with her cabin on the Frio in Concan, TX, collecting, buying and selling antiques and depression glass, tending to her plants, flowers and garden and just in general, enjoying life. She was preceded in death by her father Monroe John Classen in 1968 and her mother Roselyn (Gam Gam) McLean in 2004, and by Roselyn’s second husband John (PaPa) Mclean. She will be reunited with her parents in heaven and be close to them at Sunset Memorial Park in San Antonio. She is survived by her son, Mark Lee and his wife Miera of San Antonio; 3 grandchildren, Zachary, Mark and Scarlett; son, Todd Lee and his partner Alex Bolton of Austin; partner and friend of over 20 years Doug Agricola; former husband and friend John Lee and his wife Heidi; Aunt, Jewel Alford; loving sister, Vina Bushman and her husband LaVarre Bushman; loving brothers, William T. (Billy) Classen and his wife Terri of Spring Branch, and Monroe John (Johnny) Classen Jr and his partner Jaynne. In addition to the many special friends and cousins she leaves behind, she is also survived by her nieces and nephews that she loved so much: Lena, Yvette, Natalie, MJ, Lynn, Lara, Lisa, John, Chris, Lindsea and Sara. The family wishes to thank the Surgical Intensive Care Unit nurses and doctors at Northeast Baptist Hospital for their commitment and loving care of her as she fought back all the way until the end. Shirley was one of a kind and our memories of her will last forever. Thank You Mommy! The Family will receive friends on Thursday, April 7, 2011, from 6-8 p.m. at Sunset Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, April 8, 2011 at 3 p.m. in the Sunset Funeral Home Chapel.