Essie Lee

Essie Pearle Lee Coffeyville resident Essie Pearle Lee died Saturday December 9, 2006 in Coffeyville. She was 90. She was born May 21, 1916 in Hannibal Missouri to William and Lina Ogden Anderson. The family moved to Coffeyville in 1928. Essie graduated from Field Kindley High School in 1933 and Coffeyville Junior College in 1935. While in high school and junior college, she was active in plays and other productions. On March 31, 1939, she married Van A. Frey in Independence. They were married for 35 years before his death on April 11, 1970. On November 15, 1974, she married Richard L. Lee of Coffeyville. They were married for almost 30 years before his death on June 20, 2004. Pearle was a longtime employee of First Federal Savings and Loan. She started as a secretary and rose to Vice President and SecretaryTreasurer before she retired. After leaving First Federal, she became a field Representative for First Mortgage Insurance Company of Indianapolis, Indiana. She was active in local organizations and those in the banking and finance industry. She was the past president of the Greg Ann Chapter of the National Secretaries Association and was listed in the 5th edition ofWhos Whoof American Women. In 1964, Pearle was elected to the Board of Directors of the Southwestern Savings and Loan conference during their Colorado Springs meeting. In addition to her business affiliations and until her health began to fail, she was active in the Eastern Star, Art and Literature Club and several book clubs. Pearle was a charter member of the Athenaeum Club which she joined when she was ten years old. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. Pearles favorite hobbies were golfing and traveling. She and husband Richard traveled extensively around the country and the world. Survivors include a step-son, Donald R. Lee of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her ready smiles and bright shinning blue eyes will be missed by her step-son and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and both husbands. Memorial graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 in the Penwell-Gabel Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. The Rev. Jerry Adinolfi of St. Pauls Episcopal Church will officiate. Services are under the direction of the Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Funeral Home of Coffeyville. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www. PenwellGabel.com