Herbert D. Lee

Herbert D. Lee, born July 14, 1935 in Sallisaw, Oklahoma went to meet his Lord and Savior on August 8, 2020, at the age of 85.

Herbert was the eldest of 6 children born to John Spy Lee and Jewel McClure Lee. He grew up in the rural community of Watts with his 3 brothers, Wilburn, Harrell and Ronnie Lee, and his 2 sisters, Iva Lee Kirkpatrick and Wanda Lee Einhorn, whom he loved dearly. Growing up, his closest neighbors and some of his best friends were his cousins.

Herbert’s first jobs included milking the cows, gathering eggs, picking/chopping cotton, hoeing the garden, and drawing fresh water from the well, along with fixing his sister, Iva’s hair. He was a good “big” brother to all of his siblings and was a big help to the family.

Herbert attended a small one-room country school at Bluff Community. He often spoke of his teacher, Ms. Rector, who impacted his life. She confirmed the stories his mother taught him about Jesus. At the age of 12 he rode his fox-trottin pony to Watts Church where he gave his heart to the Lord. At age 16 he left home and moved to Rockford, IL and joined the working class at Pepsi Cola Bottling Company. He was miles from home, but his heart was still in Sequoyah County, where he left behind his childhood sweetheart, Juanita Waters, whom he married on March 2, 1956. They were residing in Rockford, IL when he answered the call to preach. The next 4 years he was extremely busy holding revivals, being a youth pastor, and welcomed the birth of his 3 children, Trica, Jeanette and Edward and became the lead pastor of a large congregation at Calvary Temple Rockford, IL.

In 1961, Herbert moved his family back to the Watts Community, where he enjoyed raising cattle, custom hay baling and fishing. He also became the pastor of Fort Smith Free Holiness, Old Mission Coweta, OK, and Blue Holiness Church McAlester, Ok, as well as Trinity Holiness Cunningham, Kentucky.

Family was extremely important to Herbert. He loved his 10 grandchildren, Amanda and Jarod Vinson, Andrea and Ryan Farish, Myka and Chris Gremillion, and Mitch Tubbs, Amber and Casey Campbell, Austin Pitts, Ryan Lee, and his bonus grandchildren, Jarod and Josh Yates, along with 16 great grandchildren, his cousins, nieces and nephews and good friend, Don Yates. He had high regards for his 2 son-in-laws, Mike Tubbs and Tony Yates.

He suffered great loss at the death of his parents, Spy and Jewel Lee, his wife and companion of 47 years, the mother of his children, Juanita Waters Lee, and one grandson, Mitcheal Tubbs.

In 2006, Herbert extended his family when he married Barbara Smart who had 4 children, Chris, Donna, Jason and Darla, their spouses, grandchildren and great grands.

In later years, Herbert couldn’t remember everyone’s name, but start a gospel hymnal, and he would surprise you by remembering most all of the verses. Bible scriptures were hidden in his heart and he never missed an opportunity to declare the goodness of the Lord and spent many hours in prayer.

Because of Covid restrictions, the family will have a private service, but the public may pay their respects and sign the register book 1 – 8 pm Monday at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw.

Memorials may be made to Muldrow Free Holiness Church Building Fund or Drakestand Cemetery PO Box 273 Sallisaw, OK 74955.