Joan Adele Lee

Joan Lee

Panguitch, Utah

Our dear, gentle mother, grandmother and friend, Joan Adele Adams Lee, passed away on Saturday, October 31, 2015.

Joan was born in Panguitch, Utah, on December 1, 1932. She was the second of four children born to Claude W. Adams and Cecil Pearl Tebbs. She grew up in Panguitch and Parowan. She married her childhood friend, companion, and soulmate, Wallace G. Lee in the St. George Temple, on September 12, 1953.

Together, Wallace and Joan embarked on a wonderful journey that took them to Chicago, where Wallace attended dental school. Joan sacrificed her own educational plans and went to work in downtown Chicago.

After completing dental school, they settled in Panguitch, where Wallace practiced dentistry. Joan kept the books for the practice and filled in as a dental assistant and receptionist, while raising their three children, Wally, David and Joyce at home. When Joyce died at age 13, it left a void in Joan's heart which never completely healed.

Later, after retirement, they moved to St. George, where Wallace pursued a second career in art, while Joan encouraged him and provided inspiration for his work. This was a happy time in their lives. They were snowbirds, spending their winters in St. George and summers in Panguitch and Panguitch Lake.

Joan was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served in many callings, including relief society, young women and primary. She enjoyed serving others. She made friends easily and was a good, loyal friend. In her last years, she enjoyed going to the Panguitch Senior Center for lunch, going for walks and having family home evening with her friends.

Joan's passion and joy was always her family. She loved her husband, parents, siblings, children and especially her grandchildren and great-grand children with all her heart. She always put their needs and interests above her own.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Claudia Joyce Halterman, her husband and her daughter, Joyce Adele Lee. She is survived by her two sons, Wallace A. (Kelly) Lee, and David G. (Sylvia) Lee, and by her two brothers, C. Tebbs (Paula) Adams, and David F. (Penny) Adams. She has 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Joan's family would like to thank the physicians, nurses and staff of Garfield Memorial Hospital for their compassionate, professional care. They made her last days a special time for all of us.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, November 6, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. in the Panguitch 2nd  LDS Ward Chapel (200 N. 400 E.) Friends may call at the ward chapel in Panguitch on Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Burial will be in the Panguitch Cemetery.