Lee Ann Van Hoose

Lee A. Van Hoose, cherished and loved wife of Gary A. Van Hoose, passed away on her beloved ranch in Cochise county AZ., on March 27, 2018 after a valiant battle with ALS. She was born in Kansas City, Mo., on July 22, 1957 to Dr. Gene D. and Betty L. Schmutzer, where she joined sister Jeannie and brother Mark. Her family moved to Tucson, AZ. After Dr. Schmutzer, finished Medical school in 1960. Preceded in death by her father (ALS), mother and sister (ALS).

Lee is survived by her loving husband Gary, of Gleeson, AZ., brother Mark W. Schmutzer, of Morenci, AZ., Lee was a loving and kind step-mother to Leah M. Rhey (Hans), and Jessica C. Vasquez (Noah) and was a creative and fun grandmother to Kalina, Esperanza and Rey Vasquez, and Mason and Colin Rhey, and proud aunt to Rene Bendler of Ardmore, PA.

Lee was a desert lover to her core and could spend hours exploring and connecting with nature. An incredibly talented artist that loved to draw and paint, Lee was responsible for designing many well-known business signs around Tucson, AZ. She was always finding treasures that she would re-purpose and make beautiful once again.

Lee and her husband love the work of Vincent Van Gogh, and Van Gogh said “To know life you must love many things.” Of all the things she loved, Lee loved nothing more on this earth than her husband Gary, and the many English Mastiffs and other furry dogs that joined them in this life. The love they shared for 34 years was immense and special, and carried them through both good times and bad.

Lee was born with the amazing gift of not having a mean bone in her body. She was a kind-heart-ed loving, beautiful woman who was a stranger to no one, and who will be missed by her family and the many, many friends she made in this lifetime. Although she will be dearly missed by all those that love her, there is comfort in knowing that she has rejoined her dearly departed loved ones in the hereafter. This is only goodbye, for now…Until then: “I will hold your heart more tenderly than my own”.

Services will be private with family and a few close friends. A celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in her name to the ALS Association, Arizona Chapter, https://webaz.alsa.org, Humane Society of Southern Arizona, https://hssaz.org, Disabled American Veterans, https://dav.org and/or the charity of your choice.