Claude W. Lee

3/13/1915 – 7/30/2011

Claude William Lee was born March 13, 1915, in Colfax, Washington. After graduation from Colfax High School he built the home his parents lived in until their deaths. He served with the army in Europe in WWII and on his return moved with his wife and children to LaGrande, Oregon and then to Enterprise in Eastern Oregon, where he established a painting and remodeling business. In the early 1950s he moved to Hawaii where he built a church and remodeled some of the most beautiful beachfront homes there. He returned stateside in 1961 and worked as a general contractor remodeling homes. After living in Portland for several years, he settled in the Greater Seattle area, where he spent his last years making friends of everyone he met. Always a vital and out-going man, one of his joys in later years was crafting tiny wooden animals and giving them away free to “the older folks” in a local home, and most recently to children having Sunday breakfast at a local restaurant. Claude was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Auburn. He is survived by his three children, Claudia Lee Palmer, Jerry Lee (Rosemary), and William Lee (Vicki); He leaves 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 pm August 13th at Messiah Lutheran Church in Auburn. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the church.

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