James Gregory Lee

Video Tribute of Mr. Lee's life available. To purchase a copy contact Mike (573-378-4655) James Gregory Lee, age 91, of Versailles, passed away Tuesday morning, April 11, 2006, at his home. He was born December 7, 1914, on a farm North of Barnett, Missouri, the son of Chas and Ollie Wilson Lee. He attended country school at East Prairie and graduated from Barnett High School. He worked for the Missouri Highway Department for a short time before he went to the state of California. He found employment at a small plating company stamping sound into music records in Los Angeles, California. He later purchased the company. James G. Lee Record Processing Company grew and was selected to make the “mother plates” for a gold record that was launched in the Voyager spacecraft in August of 1977. Voyager is wandering in space perhaps for millions of years. In the event there is an inhabited planet out there whose people intercept Voyager that can understand the recorded messages, they will learn about Earth. There is a message from President Carter, birds, Beethoven, Jazz, Chinese music, and greetings in 60 languages. He also stamped sounds into Mattel toys. He was a friend of many Hollywood stars such as Roy and Dale Evans, Judy Garland, and many others. Greg married Vivien Gottensburen, and to this union two children were born, Judith Ellen Lee and Kathleen Ann Lee. His second marriage was to Wilma “Willie” Allen, and she brought a son Wayne to this union and they added a son Dennis Gregory Lee. Greg and Willie retired to McAllen, Texas, and spent many years at their home in Texas. In the past few years, they purchased a home at the Lake of the Ozarks, and made it their summer home. Recently, they purchased a home in Versailles making it his permanent residence. Greg was baptized as a Baptist. He was a member of the Elks Lodge #1917 and the Masonic Lodge #467 both in Culver City, California. He was an avid hunter, racecar driver, golfer, and loved to play card games. He will be missed by his family and friends. Greg is survived by one daughter, Judith Ellen Higa of Los Angeles, California; one stepson, Wayne Lee of Spokane, Washington; one son, Dennis Lee of Camino, California; two granddaughters, Heather Dalton Grover and her husband Page of Columbus, Georgia and Erica Kathleen Lee of Boston, Massachusetts; one grandson, Chris Lee stationed in Korea with the United States Army; two great-grandchildren, Emily and Bradley Grover; companion and life long friend, Bertha Davenport Ensminger of Versailles; four sisters, Ola Bowen of St. Louis, Missouri, Ann Campbell and husband Duane of Union, Missouri, Mary Harvey and husband Don of Adel, Iowa, and Ruby Joens and husband Glenn of Des Moines, Iowa; two brothers, Robert E. Lee and wife Katherine of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Charles Donald Lee of St. Louis, Missouri; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Chas M. Lee and Ollie, his step-mother, Mary Lee, two brothers, Gene Woodrow Lee and Cecil Duane Lee, one daughter, Kathleen Dalton, and his wife, Wilma “Willie” Lee. Funeral and Masonic services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 15, at the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home in Versailles with Reverend Steve Burbee officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m., Saturday at the funeral home. Interment will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Versailles United Methodist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home of Versailles.

James Gregory Lee

April 11, 2006

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James Gregory Lee

April 11, 2006

About Us

What We Do

Contact KG/Locations

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