Gary Eugene Lee

Gary Eugene Lee passed away on April 19, 2025, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Born in 1941, Gary spent his earliest years in Nebraska with his mother, Rita Arnold, before moving to San Francisco, where his grandparents helped raise him in the Mission District. He graduated from San Francisco’s esteemed Lowell High School and went on to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a degree in Political Science. After earning his degree, Gary began a career with the Union Oil Company of California (Unocal), where he worked for more than three decades in roles across California, including serving as refinery superintendent. During this time, he also served in the California National Guard. Following his retirement from Unocal, Gary and his wife Cynthia made their home in Cambria, California, where they worked as tour guides at Hearst Castle — a perfect role that combined his love for history and the arts. After their final retirement as tour guides, Gary and Cynthia moved to Timnath, Colorado, to be closer to their beloved grandchildren and family. Gary loved to travel, exploring Europe, Canada, Australia, and much of the United States. Even as he faced Parkinson’s disease, he never let it slow his passion for seeing the world. Gary was a fighter, and his family believes he truly lived longer with Parkinson’s because he willed it to be so. He loved sharing stories drawn from his deep knowledge of history, art, and science fiction, and found joy in music of all kinds — from jazz and western swing to Sinatra and classical — usually with a good scotch or pint in hand. Gary is survived by his devoted wife of nearly forty years, Cynthia (Cooper) Lee; and by his children, Stacey Knuckey and Geoffrey Lee, from his first marriage to Suzanne Lee. He also leaves behind his son-in-law, John Knuckey; his cherished grandchildren, David and Lauren Knuckey; cousins, extended family, and a wide circle of lifelong friends from California and newer friends in Colorado. He was preceded in death by his mother, Rita Arnold, and his grandparents. Gary now rests along the California central coast, a place he dearly loved.

Tributes

Gary Eugene Lee

April 19, 2025