James Charles Lee

James Charles “Doc” Lee, 66, retired state juvenile probation officer, died April 11, 2016 due to complications from cancer at Peace Hospice in Great Falls. His funeral is at 9:30 am, April 15, 2016, at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church in Powell, Wyoming, with the burial of ashes thereafter at the Crown Hill Cemetery.
Jim is survived by his daughters Andrea N. Hirose and husband Darin, Jennifer Crisman and Ron Crisman, and three grandchildren: Aleksandra and Carmine Crisman and Kylie Hirose all of Great Falls.
Jim officially entered this plane of existence October 1, 1949 in Powell, Wyoming, thanks to his parents Dr. W.R. Lee DVM and Jeanette Lee.
His education began in Powell, graduating from Powell Senior High School in 1969, and he attended every class reunion of 1968 and 1969 he could get to. The following two years were at Northwest Community College in Powell, graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Education. He then attended and graduated from Eastern Montana College (MSU-Billings) with B.S. Degree in Education.
He married Cathy Palagi on June 22, 1974. They then took that opportunity to experience parenthood, much to the honor of their two daughters, Jennifer and Andrea. Although Jim and Cathy later divorced, they remained devoted to the raising of their children.
Jim was a member of the Catholic Church and the Powell Elks Club for over 25 years. Jim loved working with youth and did so as a juvenile probation officer for over 30 years. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and loved painting, ceramics and knife making.
Morals and ethics were important to him. His optimistic outlook and insatiable curiosity about all things were passed on to his children.