Charles “Larry” Lee
A Mighty Oak of a man, Charles “Larry” Lee, fought his last valiant fight in the early morning hours of January 23, 2024. He fought hard to stay and protect his wife of 60 years Mary Helen (Brown) Lee of Many, LA, whom he loved with a passion. He also leaves behind a son, Richard Lee and wife Becky, of Lake Charles, LA, a daughter, Sarah Lee Flowers and husband Bruce, of Many, LA, a sister, Susan McComic and husband Ray, of Florien, LA, a brother Lynn Lee and wife Joyce of Leesville, LA, a special ex-sister-in-law, Debra Harrington of Antioch, CA, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Grandchildren who will miss his picking, jokes, mad shooting skills and offhand remarks are Jeopardi Mitcham Gill and husband Tim of Farrsville, TX, Kody Mitcham and partner Ben Stroble of Houston, TX, Cameron Lee and wife Camryn of Florien, LA, Stephen Mouton and wife Heather of Grand Coteau, LA, Chad Soileau and wife Jaymie of Lake Charles, LA, and Casey Soileau and wife Magan of Liberty Hill, TX. He had a soft heart for his great-grandchildren: Chase & Raegan Gill, Landon Lee, Phoebe Mouton & Hillary Mouton Fabre and husband Austin, Alexys, Ayden & Avery Soileau, and Sophia, Jack, Bennett & Penelope Soileau. He is preceded in death by his father Claudie Crawford Lee, mother Virginia Lee Clark, granddaughter Callie Lee Blackwell, grandson Christian Scott Lee, and too many other beloved family members.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 2:00 PM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2084 Natchitoches Hwy, Many, LA. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any consideration of cards or gifts be made to his widow: Mary Helen Lee, 104 Hoyt Clark Rd, Many, LA 71449.
Our Mighty Oak died a richly loved and important man. He was known as a man in the armed service and protection of his fellow man. He once was a man of unfathomable physical strength. Sighting in guns, reloading 47 calibers of ammunition and gunsmithing was his passion and no one was better at it - even shooting coins tossed in the air. Everyone knew there were two things not to fear owning behind Larry Lee – a gun or a vehicle, for he kept both immaculately.
Of course, his wife, his children, grands and greats did not know him his entire life, but they heard the stories of how he was first a young mischievous hellion who was untamed growing up in Many, LA. His father, whom he loved and idolized, died when Larry was 15, which impacted his life greatly. He had two grandmothers, Emma Howard and Lilly Lee, that doted on him. Like any imperfect young man, he sowed his oats…often and with vigor. He met and quickly rescued his soon to be wife, Mary, in May 1963 after she fell while roller skating and slid under a bench. They married in October 1963 and welcomed Richard in December 1964 and Sarah in November 1965. Some thought stories heard about his youth and young adulthood were inflated in memory and had grown over-mythic somehow, but undoubtedly they were not, as he was ‘volun-told’, as called it, to go into the US Marine Corps to help him mature a bit. That is where the USMC boot camp drill instructors used his mighty physical strength and stamina without reservation to tote the drill instructor himself, plus his ruck sack, during long marches. That garnered him the title of Model Marine – square jawline and all.
He trained for and served in Viet Nam Sep 1970 – Nov 1971. Upon returning to civilian life, he lived the tenets of a Marine (once a Marine, always a Marine – Semper Fi). He worked in oil and gas in many countries around the world, worked in construction in many states in this nation and served many communities in law enforcement in this area. His stories of these times were funny, loving, wild and ultimately too many to tell.
Upon retiring from the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department, he spent the rest of his life, during what was his ‘assessment’ period, doing whatsoever he wanted and as he liked, especially shooting and piddling with guns. Because he loved his Country, he was a lifetime proponent of defending his country from enemies, both foreign and domestic. He bartered and traded thousands of guns during his lifetime. He loved visiting with special family and friends, Bob & Joyce Brown, Terry & Grace Foster, Jody Skinner and many, many others who often stopped by to visit and sit in his gunshop and talk for hours.
He loved our Heavenly Father and had a deep personal testimony of the Gospel. He is irreplaceable. He has asked that his ashes be spread on his gun range where he spent his happiest hours.
