John H. Lee, 82, of Leesburg, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 10, 2022 after a short illness.
John was born on December 1, 1939 in McKenzie, Alabama. After moving to Florida he attended local schools and graduated from Leesburg High School in 1958.
John was a small business owner in Leesburg, and owned the iconic John Lee’s Gulf Service Station from the early 1970’s until the mid-1990’s. He was selected as the Small Business Owner of the year by Lake County in the late 1970’s. He was also considered a legendary and integral part of the Leesburg community as a coach and mentor in Leesburg recreation department’s little league baseball and youth football programs and served for many years as the President of the Leesburg Little League. In his 30+ years of coaching, “Coach Lee” touched the lives of thousands of young men in Leesburg with his giving heart and generous nature, often funding the equipment and insurance needs of the less fortunate to enable them to qualify to play.
“Pop” and “Mama Lee” were the parents of five boys and loved on all of their son’s friends to the day each died, as if they were their own. Their house was “the” house on High Street for epic games of whiffle baseball and football with all the neighborhood kids, where John would often pitch or play quarterback.
John and Sadie dedicated their lives to the Lord on December 1, 1985. John attended First Baptist Church of Fruitland Park and he and Sadie were loyal members for 28 years, where they served as the Directors of the Church Food Service Ministries, and on many committees. Following Sadie’s passing, John attended Grace Bible Church in Leesburg.
John also was an incredibly talented musician and a near virtuoso on the guitar. Having been self-taught and in spite of being legally blind, he played in country and western bands in his younger years, then played with the Sonset Band, a local Christian Blue Grass band in recent years.
John was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Sadie Lee, and his sons Dennis Rixie and David Lee, twin sister, Edith Lee and younger brother Glenn Lee.
John is survived by three sons Samuel (Susan) Rixie of Fruitland Park, LaVelle (Ellen) Rixie of Lake Jem, Don (Cathy) Rixie of Lady Lake, daughter-in-law, Tina Lee, wife of the late David Lee of Leesburg, 13 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.
Services will be held at Grace Bible Church in Leesburg Saturday, July 30th located at 1703 Lewis Road, Leesburg, Florida.
The family will accept visitors at the church beginning at 9:30 am. The service will begin at 11:00 am and will be followed by a graveside service at Lone Oak Cemetery located at 306 Thomas Ave.
Following the graveside service, food and refreshments will be enjoyed at the Fellowship Hall of Grace Bible Church located at 1703 Lewis Road, Leesburg, Florida.
