Joe Preston Lee 1920-2012 [Frasier Inspiration & Father of Series Creator, David Lee]

[Zoneboy]

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Joe Preston Lee passed away on February 15, 2012 in Claremont, where he had resided for 74 years. He was 91 years old. Born on September 6, 1920 in Ector, Texas, he was the youngest of eight children of William and Mary Lee. He fled the dustbowl the day after his graduation from Whitewright High School in 1938 and moved to California to join other relatives then employed at the Claremont Colleges. He first worked as a teller at the Bank of America on First and Yale, later moving to managerial positions at Claremont Building and Loan and World Savings, finally ending up at Pomona First Federal Savings where, as vice president, he oversaw the construction of their branch office at Foothill and Indian Hill. He retired from PFF in 1982.
During the Second World War he was in the Navy Medical Corps attached to the Marines. He saw action in the South Pacific in the more than three years he was stationed there.
In 1948 he married Margaret Lillian Clark of Sherman, Texas and set up a home in Claremont. Active in many organizations there, Joe was well known and liked by locals. He was a longtime member of the Claremont Rotary Club and served as its president in the early 1970's.
An accomplished country and western musician, he played guitar and mandolin, and possessed a beautiful singing voice.
In 1986 he suffered the first of several strokes which slowly robbed him of the ability to do many of these things he enjoyed. Still, he never complained and was an example to all of grace under adverse circumstances. He also never lost his most precious gift: a wonderful sense of humor.
He is survived by Lillian Lee, his wife of almost 64 years, and his son David Lee, a TV writer, producer and director. David used his relationship with his father and his increasing disability as part of the inspiration for FRASIER, the TV series he co-created.
No services are planned. In lieu of donations, please tell a joke, sing a C&W song, or go fishing in his memory.

[Schmoopie]

Oh how sad! I'm very sorry to hear of his passing but his son was a genius for using his relationship to create such a wonderful character and a brilliant series! Hmmm... I'm not that good at telling jokes, and I don't fish. I suppose I could sing a country western song but I think a more fitting tribute would be to watch some of my favorite episodes of Frasier, don'tcha think?

[Marvo301]

Joe Preston Lee