Betty Lee

Betty Jean Lee, 86, of 246 Mt. Meeker Drive, died on August 4, 2007 in Loveland Colorado. She was born on December 4, 1920, in West Milford, West Virginia, a daughter of the late William James and Minnie Martin Lee. Ms. Lee was a 1941 graduate of the West Virginia University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. She also received a Masters in Journalism in 1944 from Columbia University. Ms. Lee left West Virginia 66 years ago and lived in Pennsylvania, New York City and Maryland before moving to Denver, Colorado in 1948. Her career included 21 jobs in reporting and editing, public relations, real estate, and hotel administration and education associations. She used her journalism degree as a reporter and editor for The New Era in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the Baltimore Sun and the Denver Post. Her jobs included fundraiser for the World Student Service Fund, Director of Publicity for the American Youth Hostels, where she bicycled all over Europe. Ms. Lee was the first Executive Director of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association and Director of the Communication for the Colorado Education Association, Director of Public Relations for Regis College and a realtor in the Denver area. For 19 years, Betty was a real mountaineer, living near Estes Park, where she worked as the Public Relations and Marketing Director for the Stanley Hotel and as a Public Relations Consultant before coming down the mountain to live in Loveland, Colorado in 1994. Ms. Lee received many honors during her career including: WhoGÇÖs Who in Colorado, WhoGÇÖs Who in Public Relations, WhoGÇÖs Who Among America Women, Education Writers Association Awards, Education Press Association awards, Theta Sigma Phi Award for Newswomen, Colorado Education Association Awards, First Woman Editor or the University of West Virginia daily newspaper, Mortar Board, Matrix, Kappa Tau Alpha Journalism Honorary, Delta Kappa Gamma Education Honorary and WhoGÇÖs Who in American Colleges. Betty had many interests that she shared with her family and friends. These interests included animals, nature, outdoor activities such as hiking and gardening, government and politics, ecology and conservation. She was predeceased by a brother, William Martin Lee. Ms. Lee is survived by her sister, Ruth Lee Waggoner and her husband John Andrew Waggoner of Danville, Virginia; three nieces and one nephew, Rebecca Waggoner Glass and her husband Mark of Cary, North Carolina, John Andrew Waggoner, Jr. of Danville, Virginia, Marilyn Lee Glowa and her husband Metro of Cary, North Carolina and Cynthia Lee Duke and her husband Earl of Maidens, Virginia; and a number of great nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held in the Great Room at the Good Samaritan in Loveland, Colorado on Saturday, August 11, 2007 at 2:00 pm. The family will receive friends after the memorial service. A private burial will be held in Estes Valley Memorial. Friends may send condolences to the family at bohlenderfuneralchapel.com.