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Shirley Jean (Wannschaff) Lee, 80

Shirley Lee, 80, passed away peacefully after a long illness on July 19, 2018, in Spokane, Wash., with her son, Shane, at her bedside. Shane tenderly cared for her since the passing of her husband in 2015.

Shirley was born in Jackson, Wyo., to Jean and Elinor Wannschaff on Dec. 26, 1937. She was described by classmates and later her employers (including her future mother-in-law) as the smartest, hardest working lady they knew. Following her graduation from Kellogg High School, she met the man who became the love of her life, Harold Neil Lee, when he returned from military service in Korea. They were married Dec. 9, 1956, in Pinehurst, Idaho.

Shirley followed her husband’s law enforcement career throughout Idaho. She was skilled, organized and efficient. She worked in office management for several businesses, including General Telephone Company in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, before finally retiring from the Shoshone County Prosecutor’s Office. Shirley was the boss wherever she went, officially or not.

Shirley loved her family, her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She liked to play cards and games of all kinds. She was an ardent fan of the Zags. Always expecting to win, she enjoyed games of chance. She loved rodeos, honky-tonks and dancing. She enjoyed horseback riding and floating the river, especially with children and grandchildren at their home on the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River in Prichard, Idaho.

Shirley was a great listener and always made time to visit with her children and grandchildren. She was funny; the life of the party with a sharp tongue and quick wit. She wrote big, talked loud and laughed hard. She was protective of her family. Everyone felt a little safer with Gramma around.

Shirley is survived by her daughter, Michele (James) Unsworth; son, Shane (Julie) Lee; grandchildren, Journee (Micah) Davis, Lucas (Arta) Ziegler, Brianna (TR) Wilkening, Jessica (Barron) Draper, Sage Unsworth and Sophia Lee; eight great-grandchildren; her sister, Karen (Lonny) Tomich; brother-in-law, James Mook; sister-in-law, Jeanie Wannschaff and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years, Harold Neil Lee; her son, Monte Neil Lee; her mother, Elinor Moore; father, Jean Wannschaff; sister, Katy Lea Mook and brother, Orlen (Bud) Wannschaff.

A memorial celebration of her life will be held in September in Prichard, Idaho.

Arrangements by Pacific Northwest Cremation, Spokane, Wash.- South Hill. Please visit Shirley’s online memorial at www.pnwcremation.com.