Mack Dale Lee

Mack Dale Lee, age 72, of Gatesville passed away Wednesday, January 7, 2015 in Temple after a lengthy struggle with many health issues. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 12, 2015 at Cedar Ridge Church of Christ with Ministers Deral McWhorter and Royce Rhoades officiating. Visitation will be 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., Sunday, January 11, 2015 at Scott’s Funeral Home. A dinner for the family will be served in the family center at the church for relatives to have a moment to share lunch and enjoy visiting. Mack was born on February 12, 1942 in Gatesville, Texas to V. R. “Happy” and Myrtle Hill Lee. He had two older sisters, Rae Juan and Rita Joy. He was an avid baseball player until he was hurt in 1954 at age 12 as a result of a gunshot accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Mack attended school in Gatesville and graduated in 1960. He was Vice-President of his senior class. After graduation, he worked for a short time for Powell Supply. In 1965, he bought a music shop, The Gallery, located on the square. He later added a Radio Shack franchise and an electronics line to his music shop until 1985 when he closed the shop. He worked as a DJ for station KPEP in Gatesville for about nine months in 1984 under station manager, Don Maples. He was active in the Gatesville Jaycees, and the Outgoing President, Wyllis Ament, gave him the President’s Award for Distinguished Service in 1970. He then served as Vice-President of the Gatesville Jaycees from 1970-71 and as President in 1971-72. Then he and his wife worked at Gun & Knife and Craft Shows on weekends until his health broke down. Mack met the love of his life, Marsha Leigh Whitlow, in 1970, when she came to Gatesville on her first teaching job at the high school. Two of her freshman English students, Debbie Bartlett and Connie Clemons, introduced them. They were married in Gatesville on June 8, 1972 by Lewis Hunter. They had no children but loved working with young people. They sponsored a young lady, Annie Jarrell Austin of Cherokee for several years, worked with European exchange students, and have had a long-lasting relationship with one they hosted, Pernilla Pettersson. They also sponsored a Honduran lady, Nusly Danely Paz for several years. Mack was always at ease with young people and loved working with them and they loved him. Mack attended Cedar Ridge Church of Christ where he was a deacon and treasurer. He loved his church family and missed attending church several years due to his failing health. He had a beautiful bass voice and loved singing, especially gospel songs. He did beautiful leatherwork. He loved fishing, knives, computer, sight-seeing, and shopping. Family also meant a lot to him and he enjoyed reunions. He and Marsha put together several family cookbooks, and enjoyed working on genealogy to share with his aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Rae Juan Markunas; and brothers-in-law, Joseph Markunas and John Wensorski. Mack is survived by his loving wife of 42 ½ years, Marsha Lee; one sister, Rita Wensorski of Lawton, Oklahoma; two sisters-in-law, Margaret Gauntt of Rio Rancho, New Mexico and Ruth Young of Waco; niece, Kathryn Howell and husband, Herb of Maryland with children, Chelsea and Brennan; niece, Shaunna Johnson and husband, Timothy of Albuquerque, New Mexico with children, Katie and Cody; nephew, Jay Markunas and wife, Laura of Cedar Park, Texas with children, Madison and Samantha; nephew, Keith Schroeder and wife, Jodi of Waco; nephew, Mark Schroeder and wife, Chelsea of Sidney, Nebraska; “daughter” (former exchange student), Pernilla Kinde and husband, Ralph and children, Felix and Filippa of Goteborg, Sweden; many wonderful cousins and friends; and loving pets, Frodo, Rascal, and Miss Kitty, who will miss him. Memorials may be made to Cedar Ridge Church of Christ, 104 Cedar Ridge, Gatesville, TX 76528.