Patricia Gene Lee was born in 1926 in Lenora, Oklahoma to Paul and Mildred Mathes. She is one of five brothers and sisters. She was raised on her family farm in Oklahoma. A child of depression, she grew up traveling with her family in the summers as a migrant worker picking fruit in Colorado from the age of five years old. Finally losing the farm, the family moved to Woodward, Oklahoma to find jobs. Patricia found work as a waitress to help support the family.
In 1948, she married W Bryan Lee after they both graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma University. Patrica was brilliant and when asked if she had grown up in our modern age as a woman, what would she have been, she casually remarked, "a theoretical physicist". Instead, her college experience resulted in a master’s degree in math, academic awards and a desire to continue advanced studies. Ultimately, her calling was a strong desire to teach math. She taught hundreds of students higher level math in the Guymon, Oklahoma public school system for over 40 years. She taught alongside her husband of 70 years W. Bryan Lee, who also served the Guymon public schools for over 40 years. When she was 30 years old, despite wanting a house full of children, she had her one and only child, Bryan Edward Lee, who she treasured with all her heart.
Patricia and her whole family came to know Jesus when she was a teenager. She read her bible every day. She faithfully served in whatever church she attended over her 98 years. She was passionate about family and kept up with all the brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews and nieces through phone calls and what we now call "old fashioned" letters. Until her very last Christmas, she published a letter to friends and family, even when it became more difficult, insisting to do it on her own.
When they retired, Patricia (Grandma Lee) and Papa Lee moved from the small town of Guymon to Dallas-Fort Worth to help with their two grandchildren, Ruth and Daniel. Daniel had been diagnosed with autism and they wanted to be nearby for both children. They lived out the rest of their long lives in DFW area, active in church, moving to a retirement community they loved and making new friends wherever they were. Wherever she lived, she served her community, even delivering mail and newspapers to the elderly when she was 95 years old.
Patricia is survived by her brother, Garrett 103 years young; son, Bryan Lee, daughter-in-law, Katherine; loving grandchildren, Ruth Roddy (Curtis) and Daniel Lee; great-grandchildren, Reagan and George Roddy; and many many nephews, nieces, great-nephews and nieces. She will be more than missed by us all.
She is predeceased by her parents; husband, W. Bryan (98); sisters, Mildred and Margaret; and brother, Lafe.
The family will receive friends during a visitation on Tuesday morning from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon at the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 10, 2025 at Waynoka Municipal Cemetery, US Highway 281 and State Highway 14, Waynoka, Oklahoma.