Obituary of FRANCIS GLAZE

Francis Glaze Lee died on May 29, 2012 as a result of complications of a stroke. Francis Lee was born on December 3, 1926 in Columbia, S.C. He was the son of the late James N. Lee and Addie Aaron Lee. He grew up in Columbia. As a child, he helped in his father?s construction business. When Francis was 17 years old, he joined the Navy and served from Dec. 3, 1943 to June 28, 1946. While in the Navy, he was stationed in Okinawa, and he worked in a construction battalion. After serving his time in the Navy, he finished school, and he worked in the movie theatre business for a period of time. From 1949 until 1968, he worked for the Columbia Police Department, and the University of South Carolina Police Department. From 1968 until 1987, worked at Carolina Eastman Company, where he was affectionately known as ?DOC.? In the early seventies, Francis Lee, along with a few other people, helped to get the EMT and EMS programs started in South Carolina. He taught classes at Midlands Tech throughout the nineteen seventies. After he retired from Carolina Eastman in 1987, he went to work as general secretary for the Scottish Rite Center until he retired in 2000. He was a 33rd degree Free Mason. He was member of Shandon Lodge, Scottish Rite, York Rite, and Jamil Shrine Temple. He was Past Master of Shandon Lodge, and was Past District Deputy Grand Master of the Tenth Masonic District. He loved photography, and he worked in photography as both a business, and a hobby. Francis was a Christian, and was a member of several churches in the Columbia area during his lifetime. The last church he was a member of was Shiloh United Methodist Church. He was also a Methodist Lay Speaker, and he spoke at many different places in S.C. During his lifetime, Francis was plagued by many health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Despite his health problems, he worked as long as he could, and helped as many people as he could. Tragically, he was stricken with an illness he could not beat. On September 12, 2011, he had a massive stroke that paralyzed him, and left him unable to speak, or swallow food. He was expected to die the night he had his stroke, but he managed to hang on for another eight months before the Lord took him home on May 29, 2012. He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years Mary Frances Lee, son Roger Brian Lee, nieces Barbra Logan, Kitty Mouzon, nephews Larry Sloan, Harry Simpson, Robert ?Mickey? Simpson, and Tommy Lee. He is also survived by his pet cats Nancy, and Kitten. Francis took care of many pets during his life, including three cats he rescued from the pound, one of which is 18 years old and still alive. Francis was predeceased by his mother and father, his brother James (Bud) Lee Jr., and sisters Glennie Flanagan, and Bessie Simpson. The family thanks Hospice and Heartland Nursing Home for their care of Francis. Funeral service for Mr. Lee will be held 3:00 p.m. Monday, June 4, 2012 at Greenlawn Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park Serenity Gardens. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until the hour of the service Monday at Greenlawn Funeral Home, 845 Leesburg Road Columbia, SC 29209.