1930
Katherine
2017
Katherine Lee
September 4, 1930 — March 17, 2017
Katherine May Lee, age 86, of Midland (formerly from Kansas City MO) went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, March 17, 2017. She was born in the same city as two Presidents, in Quincy, Massachusetts on September 4, 1930, daughter of the late Wilbur F. and Jean G. (Holt) Weeks. She moved to nearby Weymouth, Massachusetts in 1938, where she attended and graduated from Weymouth High School in 1948. Since she honestly claimed to be shy, her mother personally located a job for her at Paul’s Variety store to ease her fears, still professing to be shy, she graduated high school as a high honor student, class secretary, as well as the prettiest and most popular girl.
During World War II, aviation was a High School subject and she loved it, especially fascinated by the clouds. The University of Tennessee had the program for her, training young pilots. But the war was over and the program was cancelled after she arrived. She still stayed on, earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Transportation Business in 1951. Although she was not eligible to be a member of her professional fraternity, they asked her to be their candidate for queen, which she won. More pageants followed including being selected “Dream Girl of the South”.
In Tennessee she was quickly reminded that there is a word in front of Yankee. That shy girl fooled them, walking off with the honor of being a Torchbearer of the university, one of only 480 chosen in 85 years and singing “Rocky Top Tennessee”. She was an early member of Pi Beta Phi sorority which led projects to provide schools in Gatlinburg. She later became president of the sorority. Katherine married a fellow student, Grover E. Kirk Jr. in December, 1951. He preceded her in death 1987. As Grover’s work took them around the Midwest, she worked for several airlines, including Northeast Airlines in Boston where she regularly checked in JFK. Katherine and Grover had two daughters and the family settled in Kansas City, Missouri for 43 years.
Katherine had ambitions to direct a pre-school program at her church, leading her to the University Of Missouri, Kansas City to earn a Master’s of Arts in Education In 1971. To keep her degree active she added an Associate’s degree in Computer Science from Johnson County Community College in 1980.
She had joined TWA in 1973. Since she was a woman with operational skill and computer training, she fit their EEO goals and she became the first woman computer programmer at TWA. One of the women to follow her described her life as “the roadmap of a successful woman, blazing trails others followed”.
In 1985 the Lord came to Katherine as she was exploring different churches , and said to her “do Gods work, not church work” she was led to the Mount of Olives in Israel and was baptized in the River Jordan in 1986.
Katherine retired from her aviation career in 1990 and gave herself to the Lord, living long periods in Israel at the Jerusalem House of Prayer for All Nations. During this same time she started a twenty four hour prayer group in Kansas City.
In 2002 she married a former classmate from high school and fellow widower named Robert E. Lee and shared 14 years of happy marriage. Katherine relocated to Midland, Michigan with Bob in 2003, and continued to make friends especially in faith communities. The Lord inspired her to write two booklets capturing her faith journey. “Into the Hearts of Jesus” and “Timeless Footprints Etched on the Mount Of Olives” the Lord continued to direct and inspire her life. Katherine touched the hearts of all who met her even during a yearlong battle with Melanoma.
In addition to her husband Robert, she is survived by her daughter, Donna (John) Gunzel, step- children Richard (Patty) Lee, Cathryn Lee and Dr. Kevin (Dr. Leslie Vosshall) Lee, grandchildren, Christine Gunzel, step-grandchildren Lauren Lee, Kirsten Lee, Brett Lee, and Ophelia Lee. Katherine was preceded in death by her first husband Grover, daughter Terri Weaver, her parents, and sister Patty Thayer.
The Funeral Liturgy for Katherine will be celebrated at 12 p.m. noon Wednesday, March 22, 2017 from Assumption B.V.M. Catholic Church. Fr. Joseph Griffin will celebrate mass with burial in Terrace Park Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri. Katherine’s family will receive friends at the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home, 1200 W. Wheeler St. on Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8P.M. and at the church on Wednesday from 11a.m. until the time of mass. A Vigil for the deceased will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home. The family will also receive friends and family from 1-2 PM Saturday, March 25, 2017 at Terrace Park Funeral Home, 801 NW 108th Street, Kansas City, MO 64155. A graveside service will follow at 2 PM in Terrace Park Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider to The Dustin Powell Endowment Fund established by his mother, Emily Powell a close family friend, to help young adult cancer patients ages 18-30. The book describing Dustin and Emily’s Journey named “Relapses” was lovingly edited by Katherine.
During World War II, aviation was a High School subject and she loved it, especially fascinated by the clouds. The University of Tennessee had the program for her, training young pilots. But the war was over and the program was cancelled after she arrived. She still stayed on, earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Transportation Business in 1951. Although she was not eligible to be a member of her professional fraternity, they asked her to be their candidate for queen, which she won. More pageants followed including being selected “Dream Girl of the South”.
In Tennessee she was quickly reminded that there is a word in front of Yankee. That shy girl fooled them, walking off with the honor of being a Torchbearer of the university, one of only 480 chosen in 85 years and singing “Rocky Top Tennessee”. She was an early member of Pi Beta Phi sorority which led projects to provide schools in Gatlinburg. She later became president of the sorority. Katherine married a fellow student, Grover E. Kirk Jr. in December, 1951. He preceded her in death 1987. As Grover’s work took them around the Midwest, she worked for several airlines, including Northeast Airlines in Boston where she regularly checked in JFK. Katherine and Grover had two daughters and the family settled in Kansas City, Missouri for 43 years.
Katherine had ambitions to direct a pre-school program at her church, leading her to the University Of Missouri, Kansas City to earn a Master’s of Arts in Education In 1971. To keep her degree active she added an Associate’s degree in Computer Science from Johnson County Community College in 1980.
She had joined TWA in 1973. Since she was a woman with operational skill and computer training, she fit their EEO goals and she became the first woman computer programmer at TWA. One of the women to follow her described her life as “the roadmap of a successful woman, blazing trails others followed”.
In 1985 the Lord came to Katherine as she was exploring different churches , and said to her “do Gods work, not church work” she was led to the Mount of Olives in Israel and was baptized in the River Jordan in 1986.
Katherine retired from her aviation career in 1990 and gave herself to the Lord, living long periods in Israel at the Jerusalem House of Prayer for All Nations. During this same time she started a twenty four hour prayer group in Kansas City.
In 2002 she married a former classmate from high school and fellow widower named Robert E. Lee and shared 14 years of happy marriage. Katherine relocated to Midland, Michigan with Bob in 2003, and continued to make friends especially in faith communities. The Lord inspired her to write two booklets capturing her faith journey. “Into the Hearts of Jesus” and “Timeless Footprints Etched on the Mount Of Olives” the Lord continued to direct and inspire her life. Katherine touched the hearts of all who met her even during a yearlong battle with Melanoma.
In addition to her husband Robert, she is survived by her daughter, Donna (John) Gunzel, step- children Richard (Patty) Lee, Cathryn Lee and Dr. Kevin (Dr. Leslie Vosshall) Lee, grandchildren, Christine Gunzel, step-grandchildren Lauren Lee, Kirsten Lee, Brett Lee, and Ophelia Lee. Katherine was preceded in death by her first husband Grover, daughter Terri Weaver, her parents, and sister Patty Thayer.
The Funeral Liturgy for Katherine will be celebrated at 12 p.m. noon Wednesday, March 22, 2017 from Assumption B.V.M. Catholic Church. Fr. Joseph Griffin will celebrate mass with burial in Terrace Park Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri. Katherine’s family will receive friends at the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home, 1200 W. Wheeler St. on Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8P.M. and at the church on Wednesday from 11a.m. until the time of mass. A Vigil for the deceased will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home. The family will also receive friends and family from 1-2 PM Saturday, March 25, 2017 at Terrace Park Funeral Home, 801 NW 108th Street, Kansas City, MO 64155. A graveside service will follow at 2 PM in Terrace Park Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider to The Dustin Powell Endowment Fund established by his mother, Emily Powell a close family friend, to help young adult cancer patients ages 18-30. The book describing Dustin and Emily’s Journey named “Relapses” was lovingly edited by Katherine.
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