Obituary for Ronald "Bear" Dean Lee

Carterville

Ronald "Bear" Dean Lee, 53, of Carterville, passed away on Friday, January 1, 2016, at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, January 9, 2016, at Riggin-Pillatsch & Burke Funeral Home in Carterville, with David Vaughn officiating.

Burial will be in Blairsville Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m., Friday, January 8, 2016, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to his family and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Ron was born on April 15, 1962, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Willard Dean and Jessie (Reeder) Lee. He married Judith Hendricks Cook on June 27, 2003, in Murphysboro.

He is survived by his loving wife, Judith Lee of Carterville; daughter, Peyton Lee of Chester; step-daughter, Tabetha (Cook) and Ryan Farrar of Carterville; step-sons, Travis and Becky Cook of DeSoto and Tyler and Kelly Cook of Carterville; brother, Lou DeWitt of Atlanta; grandchildren, Blaine, Megan, Kaydence, Landon, Dillon, Toby, Addison, Ember, and Vivian; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Tod and Dorothy Hendricks of Carterville; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Michael and Susan Hendricks of Miami, Fla., Kent and Juliann Hale of Herrin, April Rice of Herrin, Autumn and Jeremy Sollami of Carterville, and Tod and Holly Hendricks of Carterville; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents.

He was a 1980 graduate of Coronado High School.

Ron had worked as the Auto Service Center Manager at K-Mart in both West Frankfort and Terre Haute, Indiana, for several years.

He retired after 15 years of services with the Illinois Department of Corrections. Following his retirement, Ron began working as a bus driver for the Carterville Unit #5 School District. He also served as President for the AFSCME Union at Carterville Unit #5.

Ron had a great passion for motorcycles and loved being out on the road riding "Big Red," his Harley. He shared that passion as a member of the Second Brigade Motorcycle Club.

He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing pool, and tinkering with engines. Ron was quite the Elvis aficionado along with Willie, Waylon and Merle. He loved to cheer on his beloved Cardinals.

Ron was a big supporter of Carterville High School Football. He spent numerous hours volunteering at the VA Medical Center in Marion.

To view this obituary and sign the guest register, please visit www.rigginpillatschburkefh.com.