Jerry Lee

Stephen Jerry Lee, age 82, passed away August 8, 2026.

Jerry was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 18, 1944, to Ray and Connie Lee. He was their fifth child. Jerry grew up on a farm in Tabiona, Utah where he learned the value of hard work, family, and service to others. He showed a creative side tinkering, fixing, and bringing things back to life from junk he found in the Farm Creek wash. He was known for his “fixer uppers” such as bikes, wagons, and farm equipment.

Jerry graduated from Tabiona High in 1962. He was a senior class officer, played on the varsity basketball team, and participated in the school marching band. Jerry had a reputation as a class clown; his classroom pranks often got him in trouble and gave him the opportunity to walk home instead of riding on the school bus.

Jerry joined Geneva Steel in Orem, Utah after graduation where he became a welder through an apprenticeship program. He worked hard and progressed through the management programs and retired from the company after 45 years. He was a member of A.I.S.E — Association of Iron and Steel Engineers.

Jerry was proud to serve two years in the U.S. Navy Reserve Seabees as a Petty Officer, Steelworker Second Class. He had the opportunity to work on projects at Fallon Naval Air Station in Northern Nevada and Naval Station Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay; he received an Honorable Discharge in 1978.

Jerry belonged to the Orem Police Reserves and served as a patrol officer for over six years and held a position as their president. He was a member of Provo Elks Lodge 849, where he was involved in charitable community projects and of course, their social activities group.

Jerry had many interests, he liked traveling around the West and had the unique opportunity of visiting Russia, Finland, and Thailand. He looked forward to hunting, camping, and fishing around Utah and the Western States along with a lifetime fascination with old West history. He was a member of The Rocky Mountain Fur Company and was given his Mountain Man name “Too Tall”. Through this fellowship he enjoyed rendezvous reenactments, muzzleloader hunts, roughing it in his teepee, and making his mountain man clothing and accessories out of hides and furs that he trapped himself.

Jerry was a strong, kind, and respected man. He loved his family, quiet mornings with a cup of black coffee, old TV Westerns, U of U football games, his many trucks (especially washing them weekly) and his cats. He enjoyed wearing his crazy cat t-shirts that his niece Shanna gifted him – they always brought him a lot of attention, happiness, and joy to others to see the 6’ 8” giant of a man in a crazy cat t-shirt.

He has left behind his wife of 45 years, Jill Ann Lee and daughter Megan (Steve), his three children from his first marriage with Mary: Michael, Stefanie (Brian) and Shawn (Lynette). He is also survived by his sister Cindy (Don), brother Brent (Michele) and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. His passing leaves a space too large to fill and memories too many to list.