Robert Earl Lee

Robert Earl Lee was born April 9, 1936 to Wayne and Hazel Lee of Bradley County. He was predeceased by his wife, Evelyn Jeanette Presswood Lee, his parents, and 13 aunts and uncles. He is survived by his only son, Victor (Judy), of Knoxville, TN, five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and several beloved nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. He was an only child, but counted his brother and sisters-in-law (Larry Presswood, Virginia Presswood Davis, Lynda Presswood Suggs, and Bill Presswood) as his.

Robert embodied the successful pursuit of the American Dream, rising from a $100/week Coca-Cola truck driver right out of high school to Vice-President of Bill Murray & Associates, a major automobile parts wholesaler. Cars were his avocation, always driving the best and collecting more than 600 high-quality dye-cast models, many of which his family and friends treasure as memories of him that he passed on one-at-a-time before his death.. Robert and Evelyn enjoyed traveling and entertaining, were blessed by great friends too numerous to name, and were great friends to many.

Robert was affable and encouraging and always displayed a hopeful attitude, even in the face of considerable physical trials after suffering a stroke in 2001. He and Evelyn continue to travel and live very actively. His final years of deeper physical distress and the loss of Evelyn in the summer of ‘14 were marked by an up-beat spirit, regardless of circumstances.

He was class president of Bradley Central High School all four years (graduating in ’54). After the brief stint at Coca-Cola, Robert managed Auto Parts store for mentor and owner Don White, then moved to Knoxville in 1969 when he took a sales positions with Arvin and later Maremont, before Bill Murray offered a great opportunity to join his company in the late 70s. Robert & Evelyn moved to Birmingham in 1991 for Robert to join the front office with Bill Murray & Associates. They returned to Cleveland shortly after Robert’s stroke.

The family is deeply thankful to the staff of Garden Plaza, especially Esmeralda Lee, and later Life Care Center of Cleveland, especially Richard Fisher, for their loving care of Robert.

Funeral services will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, 2018 in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with his son, Pastor Victor Lee and Tom Wicks are officiating.  Interment will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 13, 2018 in Sunset Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home prior to the service.

The family asks that memorials be made to: To foster/adopt support ministry of Strategic Global Networks, 10925 Sonja Drive, Knoxville, TN 37931.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Lee family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.