John H Lee's Obituary
John H Lee was born on January 22nd 1937. He was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho. His parents are John Lee and Veda Annis Higbee. He has two older brothers, Sterling and Kent. He grew up in Rigby Idaho and Long Beach California. John graduated from David Starr Jordan High School in Long Beach California in 1955. He went on his mission in December of 1957 to the Uruguay mission and then transferred to the New Andes mission and Lima, Peru, comprising Peru, Chile and Bolivia which had just opened up. He was one of the first missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to travel to South America by plane instead of by boat. He was set apart as a missionary by Harold B. Lee. While he was on his mission his brother Sterling who was in the Air Force died in an air force training exercise in England. This was one of the hardest things our Dad had to go through. Harold B. Lee told him this too shall pass and Dad felt immediate peace. He married Donna Marie Nay on June 8th 1962 in the Salt Lake Temple. They have 6 children. Steve, Amy, Karen, Doug, Jenn and Katie.
John got degrees from the University of Utah and from Stanford University. He got a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Utah and a Masters in Electrical Engineering and Systems Design from Stanford University. He worked on many projects throughout his career including a full-study Hughes Masters Fellowship program to Stanford. His Summer project was the Hughes-developed Surveyor Moon Lander 1 (or the Odyssey) color camera. The Odyssey landed on the moon and Dad got to cheer with colleagues when it landed. This moon lander hangs in the Air and Space Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C.
Dad also worked on the concept formulation for the space station development. He also helped on a project for the performance software studies and testing for an undersea vehicle called MUST.
Dad had a heart of gold. Always stopping what he was doing, often going out of his way to help anyone that needed help. Our Dad taught us to serve others, to work hard, to have fun, to have integrity and to learn all we can. Knowing he is with our Mom again brings great comfort. He is leaving a legacy of his faith for all of his posterity. Thank you Dad for your example and testimony they are etched in our minds and hearts.
He is survived by his sons Stephen John Lee, Douglas Earl Lee and his daughters Amy Louise Ricks, Karen Diane Rowley, Jennette Marie Washburn and Katherine Anne Lee.
His 28 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
Services will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at the Eagle Mountain East Stake Center located at 5027 East Chapel Drive. The viewing will begin at 9:30am with the funeral service following at 10:45 am. Interment will take place at the Pony Express Cemetery.
The service will be livestreamed at the following link:
https://zoom.us/j/8296385310?pwd=VTlmNGxDUXBSUkxUSmlPNnRWdGZadz09 (https://zoom.us/j/8296385310?pwd=VTlmNGxDUXBSUkxUSmlPNnRWdGZadz09)
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