Rena Lee

Rena Faye (Kinzer) Lee

Born January 16, 1935

Died November 21. 2022  at age 87

Born in Nashville to Harold and Ella Kinzer, Rena grew up in a modest home in a tight-knit family with three sisters and one brother, walking together to 10th Ave Church of Christ every Sunday morning. She loved school and was named Most Courteous and Most Dignified by her 1953 Senior Class at Hume-Fogg.  She married Randolph Jackson Lee, Sr (Jack) in 1955, and thoroughly enjoyed her bookkeeping job for National Stores.  After a few years, Rena became a full-time mom, raising their 4 children, tirelessly baking cookies for class parties, sewing costumes for school plays, and waiting up late to make sure her kids got home safe.  If Rena knew you, she loved you, and her love was unconditional.  Always remembering friends’ and family’s birthdays and anniversaries, she kept Hallmark in business and the Bellevue post office low on stamps.  Rena was never afraid to show people that she cared about them, and her smile and laugh could light up a room.  Possibly her biggest fan, although there are several folks who would argue over the title, her husband Jack still takes pride in his decision 67 years ago to ask Rena if she would consider marrying him.  Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will forever be grateful that he did.

Rena is preceded in death by her parents, H.M. and Ella Kinzer, sisters Joyce Kinzer Szabo and Carole Kinzer Wilson, brother H.M. Kinzer, Jr, son Thomas Clark Lee, and grandson Stephen Ross Lee.

She is survived by her loving husband Randolph Jackson Lee, Sr, sister Mable Kinzer Blevins, son Randolph Jackson (Betsy)Lee, Jr., daughters Mariellen Lee Lada and Barbara Ella Lee (Stephen) Tallent,  grandchildren Joey Lada, Jamie Lada, Alicia Piette, Austin Thomas Lee, Lindsey Allison Lee, Emily Suzanne Lee, Anna Elizabeth Lee, Lee Mason Tallent, Jake Thomas Tallent, and Ben Chappell Tallent, great-grandchildren Crew James Lada and Honey Dianne Perry.