COLUMBUS
Her apron strings were endless – never untied, never cut. Avie “Jane” Lee, 81, always held tightly to her family. With her prayers, her hugs and her love, she cared beyond measure for her husband of 64 years, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and others close to her.
On Thursday, March 29, from complications of Parkinson’s Disease, Jane passed away at Columbus Regional Hospital. But her life’s work, faith and teachings will live on in family and friends.
Her journey began on Oct. 20, 1936 in Liberty, Ky., where she was born and raised as the daughter of Charlie and Ida Mae (Derringer) Whited. She was one of 12 children which included brothers Ira, Carl, Homer, Harold and Jerry. She had seven sisters: Ruby, Rilda, Nellie, Mable, Ida Lee and Pauline.
On Christmas Day 1953 she married her childhood friend and sweetheart James D. Lee, also of Liberty. The two created their home in Indiana. Two years later they had a son, Jeffery. When he was almost seven, he was joined by a sister, Jonie.
Jane was a testament to hard work, supporting the family and working beside her husband in nearly every task. She went to work in a school cafeteria when her youngest child started school. She chose this line of work so she could be at home when her children got off of the bus. Many know her as the “French fry lady” at what was Southside Jr. High School. She saw her work in the cafeteria as a labor of love, talking to and encouraging children in the line. Even in her late life, she was always recognizing adults in the crowd who had passed through her line.
Friends know her to be a servant and a woman of great faith. She and her husband have been attending members of the First Church of the Nazarene in Columbus for nearly 50 years. Their beliefs in helping others led them to assist in raising numerous children. They have also given of their time to help all family and widowed friends, lending support and assisting with numerous home projects, and they never expected anything in return.
Her personality could be summarized as sweet and sometimes feisty, but always caring. By her own definition, she was a simple lady who liked simple things, especially flowers and vegetables that she started from seeds. She loved the outdoors and she loved Jesus. Her faith sustained her through hard times. She was always giving Him praise and encouraging others to hold fast for a better tomorrow.
Jane is survived by her loving husband and her two children, son Jeffery (Donna Sue Riddle) and daughter Jonie Gates (husband, John); grandchildren, Lindsey Foster and Mikel Lee; and four great-grandchildren – Logan Hoene, Joslin Perry, Gavin Lee and Jeremiah Lee. Five of her siblings survive: Pauline Hayes, Mable Allen, Ida Lee Woods, Homer Whited and Harold Whited, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation to support family and pay respects to Jane will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 2 at the Jewell-Rittman Funeral Home, 3855 25th St., Columbus, Ind. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Brian Rogers, First Church of the Nazarene, officiating. Burial will be at Bethel Baptist Cemetery in Bartholomew County.
Memorials may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research thru the funeral home.
