CLETA:
Cleta Virginia (Grantham) Lee, 80, of Wichita, Kansas passed peacefully on May 29, 2024. She was born in Wichita on March 21, 1944 to the late Thelma and Wilber Grantham.
She attended Wichita schools, where she was quiet, yet smart and graduated from East High. She went on to have two children, Deborah and Susanne, and once they began school, she went to work as an orthodontist assistant a few days a week.
Later, she owned and operated a liquor store and it was there her life changed as this man who frequented the store, not necessarily to purchase anything, yet to see her, started up a conversation. It was around Thanksgiving and Cleta asked the patron, Edward Lee Jr., what his plans were for the holiday? He responded with, “I don’t have any family” and she replied, “Well, you do now!” After a Las Vegas wedding, in honor of her mother’s birthday, on March 3, 1989 and for the next 36 years, he was part of her family.
She was the “Christmas Queen,” setting up 3 trees around the house, yet where her trueness lied was in the gifts she gave to those she didn’t even know. She loved to cook, read, was an avid Chiefs fan along with Ed, and they loved traveling, especially on cruises.
Cleta had an amazing life, so, you can imagine what excellent care Ed, along with daughter Debbie, gave her in their home, until it was too much for both of them and Ed made the hard decision of transitioning her into an assisted living.
She is preceded by her parents, brother, and step-son, Chad Lee, yet is reunited with her love, as Cleta and Ed passed 2 months apart, this love will be carried on by their children, Deborah (Robin) Bone and Susanne (Michael) Krehbiel, along with numerous grand and great-grandchildren.
ED:
Edward Gavin Lee Jr., 68, of Wichita, Kansas, passed on March 25, 2024. He was born in Lawton, Oklahoma to the late Edward Lee Sr. and Imogene (Danforth) Lee on June 26, 1955. He was also brother to Dan and George Sellers and David Lee.
Growing up in Lawton, Ed was a force on the baseball and football fields and enjoyed school. One of his first jobs, in the gun department at KMART, helped steer him to what would be his retirement career, after 25 years in administration with Boge Iron.
There was fishing, boating, really anything outdoors, and because of his love of football, when on, you’d find him cheering on the Oklahoma Sooners or Kansas City Chiefs. Not to mention, he was an active member in the NRA.
Perhaps one of his best days was when it came to “hooking” Cleta Morris that day in her liquor store. “What are your plans for Thanksgiving?” she asked. “I don’t’ have any family,” he responded and from that day, he could never utter those words again as he was and she was, the love of each other’s lives, marrying on March 3, 1989, in Las Vegas. Adding two bonus children to his life with her daughters, Deborah and Suzanne.
He dearly loved Cleta, calling her "green eyes" and anything she wanted in life, he made it happen. He took such good care of her, until he needed extra help and called daughter, Debbie, to step in and help for the last 3 years of her life.
Ed was a true gentleman and partner to Cleta. A true love meant to be, and was for 36 years.
Preceded by his parents and brothers, David Lee and George Sellers, those left to honor his memory are his brother, Dan Sellers, step-daughters, Deborah (Robin) Bone and Susanne (Mike) Krehbiel, and many grand and great-grandchildren.
SERVICE INFORMATION:
A memorial celebration for Ed and Cleta will be held Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 1:00 PM in the Garden of Bruce Newton at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11800 W. Kellogg, Wichita, Kansas, 67209.
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