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In memory of

Lee Jones

Payson, AZ

August 19, 1921 - September 20, 2021

Aug 19, 1921 - Sep 20, 2021

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Lee Jones - Born in Virginia, grew up in Texas, called Arizona home.

Please join us, Saturday December 18, 2021 at the Elks Lodge in Payson to celebrate Lee’s life.

Lee’s life spanned two centuries. He picked cotton during the Great Depression, served in the Army Air Corps in the European theater in WWII, and died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 100 after checking messages on his smartphone.

Lee kept busy. He lived the life of an itinerant farmer in his early years, traveling throughout the south with his father before settling down in south Texas. He studied meteorology in high school and the Army Air Corp put this knowledge to use during WWII, stationing Lee in England where he prepared weather reports for Army pilots.

After the war, Lee attended the University of Texas for a few years before entering the insurance industry. He was a claims adjuster for many years before deciding to venture out into the world of entrepreneurism. He was, among many other things, the founder of a girls finishing school and a chronic giftshop owner.

But it was cactus cultivation that caught Lee’s interest and he spent the last half of his life in that field. He could provide the scientific name for any variety of cactus and was one of only three people licensed by the state of Arizona to legally cultivate cactus in the Arizona desert. It was his passion.

Lee was known for his stories, which are far too numerous to recount. But in his memory, he asks you to remember your favorite story now.

Lee was preceded in death by his wives, daughter Barbara, and son Scott.

A military sendoff is planned for Saturday, December 18, 2021, 2:00 PM at the Elks Lodge in Payson where Lee served as the second Exalted Ruler. We hope to see you there.

In lieu of flowers, we ask you to please make a donation locally to either the Payson Elks Lodge or the Payson American Legion in his name.

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