Billy Dean Lee

Billy Dean Lee of Bloomfield, son of the late Steve and Pearl McDowell Gibbs, was born in Toppertown, Missouri on April 14, 1933, and passed away at the Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau on January 4, 2020, at the age of 86 years, 8 months and 21 days. After his parents deaths, he was adopted by the late Charlie and Maud Cook Lee. Billy accepted the Lord as his savior while on his mail route and faithfully served him the rest of his life. He loyally attended the Trinity United Methodist Church where he was a member and served as trustee, on the finance board and took up the early morning offering. He had also attended the Walker Mt. Zion General Baptist Church. Billy started working at the Bloomfield Post Office on Nov. 17, 1966 and later became a Rural Mail Carrier serving Route 1. He loved his job and enjoyed meeting and serving the customers on his route, expecially the children who regularly met him at their mail boxes for the suckers he gave them. He served in the U. S. Army for two years during the Korean Conflict and obtained the rank of Corporal A member and Past Master in 1972 or the Bloomfield Masonic Lodge #153 AF & A.M, a member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry 32nd degree and a member and Past Patron of Bloomfield Chapter #385, Order of the Eastern Star. He served on the Walker Cemetery Association as a board member for many years Billy and his late wife, Helen, loved to square dance and were very active members of the Thunderbird Square Dance Club at Sikeston. He was united in marriage to Helen Dean Cravens on March 20, 1953 at the Mt. Pisgah Church in Aquilla. Surviving are one grandson, Ryan Alan Lee of Dexter; several nieces, other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by his only son, Thomas Ray Lee; seven brothers, Paul Lee, Willard “Bill” Lee, Leffler Lee, Norman Holder, Steve Holder, Guy Holder and Grover Phillips. Billy enjoyed life, being with his friends, loved his family, Church and playing golf. He and his son, Tom, played as partners in golf for thirty-two years. They were close and were championship players winning many tournaments around Southeast Missouri. They were known as the “Lee Team”. Later he was known as “The Donut Man” delivering donuts to many in the Bloomfield community. Friends may visit on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield, Missouri. Eastern Star Services will be held at 7:00 p.m. And Masonic Services will be held at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2020, at 1:00 pm at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home with the Rev. Steve Koerner of Bloomfield Missouri officiating. Interment will follow at the Walker Cemetery near Bloomfield with full Military Honors. Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home of Bloomfield, Missouri in charge of arrangements. Memorial may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church, 704 W. Missouri St., Bloomfield MO 63825.