Katie Lee

Katie Verdl Lee Age: 96 Katie’s life was defined by loving service – she had a tender spirit that displayed itself consistently in hard work serving others. She loved her husband, her children, her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She loved her extended family – Dawsons, Lees, and church family. She loved music, especially southern gospel quartet-style. She was a creative seamstress and cook. Maybe most of all, she loved growing things, from babies and children to green beans and watermelons. In all these areas, she used her talent to serve, and though working hard, often declared herself unworthy of praise or recognition. The fifth child of nine born to Daniel and Valeria Dawson, Katie grew up on Joslin Branch in White Bluff, TN. Her spirit was so tender that just a scolding from a parent could bring her to tears, without a spanking. She and her sister, Edith, developed a special loving relationship, being the only two girls with seven brothers. However, loving the outdoors and being very active, her special playmate growing up was her brother, Felix. They had many escapades together. Growing up during the Great Depression, they found scraps of things from around the farm and made their own toys. They played together under the old Victorian farmhouse around the base of its great stone fireplace. There was music in that family; sometimes as a child she would slide the guitar out from underneath the bed in the boys’ room and delight to strum her finger across the strings. Later, as an adult, she played guitar and sang with a country gospel group in churches. At home, with supper on waiting the stove, she would sometimes play and sing the music she loved on the front porch steps with her children around her. She loved her husband faithfully and worked tirelessly with him raising their six children on the farm. Rising early, she stoked the wood stove and made biscuit for breakfast, sending him off to work before waking the children for school. Many would consider her country life a hard one, but she rejoiced to be able to love her family with all that hard work. Katie had only an eighth-grade education, but among her children were three with bachelor degrees, one of them a professional engineer and the other two went on to earn masters degrees. Another son retired as an instrument mechanic/safety consultant for TVA, while still another served 9 years as elected Business Agent at the middle TN Sheet Metal Workers Union. Katie was a creative seamstress and cook, well-known for her wonderful cakes and abundant table, as well as the Family Country Breakfast. She made clothes for her family, little dresses for her granddaughters and baby outfits, etc. Perhaps most of all, Katie, “Momma”, loved growing things. From her own family, to babysitting others’ children, her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, she loved them all. Even the friends of her teenage children loved her like a second mother. She loved growing a garden, and we will miss her excellent advice and expertise in that. She often said she preferred being outside in the garden than inside the house, something she missed very much as she became less able to go out. Katie Dawson Lee lived a life characterized by humility. She always acknowledged she could do nothing without her Lord. She read her Bible daily and prayed faithfully for those she loved. She has passed on a legacy of trust in God and His faithfulness and love to her children and grandchildren through her example in prayer and obedience. As the scripture says,” Her children arise and call her blessed”. But when they would almost fill a room with flowers on a birthday or Mother’s Day, she would say, “Y’all shouldn’t do this I’m not worthy of all this.” She was worthy – of that, and so much more: Katie Dawson Lee, our sweet “Momma”, “Granny”, Aunt, Sister-in-law, and Great-Granny. She will be sorely missed. Of: Dickson, TN Died: Thursday, January 20, 2022, at her home in Dickson. Visitation: will be Sunday, January 23, 2:00 – 8:00pm and Monday, January 24, 11:00 – 1:00pm. Funeral Service: for Katie Lee will be conducted at 1:00 pm Monday, January 24 from the Chapel of Spann Funeral Home. Interment: Lucas – Lee – Jason Chapel Cemetery Survived by: 2 Sons: Danny Wilson Lee (Wendy) of Waverly, TN Billy Ralph Lee of Brentwood, TN 2 Daughters: Vickie Painter of Dickson, TN Sharon Lee Theis (Joe) of Rockwood, MI 10 Grandchildren 6 Great Grandchildren Preceded in death by: Husband: Archie Wilson Lee Parents: Daniel & Valeria Gill Dawson Sons: Archie Terry Lee & Timothy Ray Lee ARRANGEMENTS BY: SPANN FUNERAL HOME (615) 446-1123