Ella Lee | Obituaries | The Huntsville article

Ella Jean (Knight) Lee passed peacefully in the presence of her Savior on October 20, 2021. She lived in Baytown, Texas. Jean will be remembered for his caring nature, his generous heart and his life of service to others. She was kind to everyone she met.
Jean was born October 1, 1931 in Oakhurst, Texas, San Jacinto County, to Otis and Jewell (Head) Knight. She grew up in Oakhurst and loved to remember her young friends, their adventures and her love for her horse Charlie. She was a cowgirl at heart and rarely missed the opportunity to ride with Alton Aden, her stepfather, to tend his cattle. From there she learned early on that everyone should know how to saddle their own horse.
At the age of 15, Jean graduated from Oakhurst High School in 1947 as a valedictorian. The family moved to Huntsville where Jean enrolled at Sam Houston State Teachers College, now Sam Houston State University. It was here that she met OB Lee, another journalism student and the love of her life. In her senior year, Jean was editor-in-chief of the Houstonian, the campus newspaper. She was a regular contributor to the campus literary magazine, was a member of Who’s Who, and was on the Dean’s List.
Jean graduated from Sam Houston in 1950, married OB and moved to Baytown, and began 41 years in public education. By 1956, she had both a master’s degree and a certification in library science. She first taught at Crosby ISD. She used her journalistic skills to teach English and social studies in middle and high school. Then, after four years at Crosby ISD, Jean taught for a year at Deer Park before joining Goose Creek ISD.
Most of his 36-year tenure with Goose Creek was a librarian at Carver Jones High School, Baytown Junior High, and Robert E. Lee High School. Jean loved the staff and students at Goose Creek. On April 29, 1987, as Robert E. Lee High School burned down, Jean and OB rushed to school and began rescuing irreplaceable computer equipment and library materials. Immediately after the fire, she began to organize the drying and storage of damaged books and was responsible for reorganizing the “new” library at REL high school. She wasn’t talking about love and loyalty; she lived it for her colleagues, students and friends.
Jean has served as president of the Baytown Education Association and the Baytown Classroom Teachers Association. In May 1992, Jean Lee Day was celebrated in Baytown and Jean retired from Goose Creek ISD. She was then proud to dedicate seventeen years to the Town of Baytown as a part-time Reference Librarian at the Sterling Public Library. One of Jean’s favorite quotes, as pronounced by Mark Twain, was “The man who can’t read is no better off than the man who can’t read.”
She was an active member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, an honorary organization for educators. She has participated at the local, national and international levels. She was president of the local, Epsilon Psi.
Jean was a life member of the Texas State Teachers Association and the Baytown Retired Teachers Association. She was a member of the American and Texas Library Associations, the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, and Sam Houston Alumni. She was a 50-year member of Goose Creek Chapter # 798, Order of the Eastern Star, and Cedar Bayou Chapter 11 Endowed Member.
Church mission trips, family vacations, Girl Scouts, Lee Brigadiers, school years at Janet and Dena turned Texas Aggies, all were fond memories for Jean and OB. However, it was the Wooster Baptist Church that gave John and his family spiritual guidance and strength over the years. This church gave her children a solid foundation for meeting the challenges of life. The family would like to express their gratitude to Pastor Jason Shuttlesworth and members of the Wooster Baptist Church for their visits and their kindness to John.
Ella Jean Lee was predeceased by her parents, Jewell (Head) and Otis Knight; her stepfather, Alton Aden; toddler son Brian Albert Lee, and her husband, OB Lee. She is survived by her daughters, Janet Lee Killion (son-in-law Bill), College Station, Texas; Dena Ann Lee, Spring, Texas; and grandson Brenton Lee Killion of Austin, Texas.
The family appreciates the medical care provided by Dr James Bernick and Dr Chris Hays for the care of Jean in his later years. Jean had wonderful, loving and dedicated caregivers including Kim Andrade, Joann Chapman, Lelia Nichols, Lucy Andrade, and Angie Sierra. They took care of her in an extraordinary way. The family would also like to thank Lorraine Smith and Joyce Williams for the care they provided to Jean. John thanked the Lord for these precious women.
John’s favorite scripture is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Arrangements are under the direction of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Drive, Baytown, Texas 77521, (281) 422-8111. The family will receive friends for visit on Monday, October 25, 2021 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am at the Navarre Funeral Home. The funeral will take place on Monday, October 25, 2021 at 10:30 am in the chapel of the Maison Funéraire de Navarre. Interment will follow at Center Hill Cemetery, 110 Center Hill Rd., Oakhurst, Texas 77359.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Wooster Baptist Church Building Fund, 7007 Bayway Drive, Baytown, Texas, or the Sterling Public Library in Baytown.