William
William “Cougar”
d. July 25, 2011
01/05/1921-07/25/2011
William Palmer “Cougar” Lee died Monday, July 25, 2011 after losing his brave battle with dementia and congestive heart failure. At the time his soul left to be with his Lord he was surrounded by his son Fred, devoted niece Sharon Curran, loving friend Cora Razore and the incomparable and loving caregivers at Hospice House. Mr. Lee was a lifetime resident of Bellingham, born here Jan. 5, 1921 to Palmer and Mable Lee. Mr. Lee was the grandson of Peter P. Lee, prominent pioneer businessman in Bellingham in the early 1900’s and founder of the Lee Grocery Company. “Cougar” as he was known affectionately by everyone, attended Lowell Elementary and Fairhaven High School until it burned in 1936. He graduated from the newly constructed BHS in 1938. He then attended PLU in Parkland, WA where he majored in Business and played baseball and basketball. In January of 1942, one month after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Cougar joined the Navy and served on an escort carrier in the Pacific Theatre. He saw many historic battles, including Midway, Leyte Gulf, and the Marianas Turkeyshoot. Cougar was truly a part of what Tom Brokaw referred to as the Greatest Generation. In 1947 Cougar married Patricia M. Rocke, and in July of 1948 their only child Fred was born. Pat and Bill were joined as husband and wife until her death in September of 2010. He was preceded in death by his younger brother Robert in 1965 and his older sister Lucille in 1994. From 1964 to 1976 Cougar owned and operated the Silver Beach Market. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Elks Club. He attended Our Saviours Lutheran Church in his early years and later attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Pat. He is survived by his son Fred and more than 50 nieces and nephews in the Lee, Rocke and Westford families. His patient, brave and generous spirit will be greatly missed. Visitation will be held at Westford Funeral Home on Mon., Aug 1st from 3-5 PM. A Celebration of Cougar’s life with military honors will be held at Westford Funeral Home on Tue., Aug 2nd at 11 AM followed by a reception across the street at Westford’s Broadway Hall.
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William Palmer “Cougar” Lee died Monday, July 25, 2011 after losing his brave battle with dementia and congestive heart failure. At the time his soul left to be with his Lord he was surrounded by his son Fred, devoted niece Sharon Curran, loving friend Cora Razore and the incomparable and loving caregivers at Hospice House. Mr. Lee was a lifetime resident of Bellingham, born here Jan. 5, 1921 to Palmer and Mable Lee. Mr. Lee was the grandson of Peter P. Lee, prominent pioneer businessman in Bellingham in the early 1900’s and founder of the Lee Grocery Company. “Cougar” as he was known affectionately by everyone, attended Lowell Elementary and Fairhaven High School until it burned in 1936. He graduated from the newly constructed BHS in 1938. He then attended PLU in Parkland, WA where he majored in Business and played baseball and basketball. In January of 1942, one month after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Cougar joined the Navy and served on an escort carrier in the Pacific Theatre. He saw many historic battles, including Midway, Leyte Gulf, and the Marianas Turkeyshoot. Cougar was truly a part of what Tom Brokaw referred to as the Greatest Generation. In 1947 Cougar married Patricia M. Rocke, and in July of 1948 their only child Fred was born. Pat and Bill were joined as husband and wife until her death in September of 2010. He was preceded in death by his younger brother Robert in 1965 and his older sister Lucille in 1994. From 1964 to 1976 Cougar owned and operated the Silver Beach Market. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Elks Club. He attended Our Saviours Lutheran Church in his early years and later attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Pat. He is survived by his son Fred and more than 50 nieces and nephews in the Lee, Rocke and Westford families. His patient, brave and generous spirit will be greatly missed. Visitation will be held at Westford Funeral Home on Mon., Aug 1st from 3-5 PM. A Celebration of Cougar’s life with military honors will be held at Westford Funeral Home on Tue., Aug 2nd at 11 AM followed by a reception across the street at Westford’s Broadway Hall.
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