- Obituary
- Celebration of Life service (video)
- Some examples of Lee’s photography on Kitti Carriker’s blog.
I heard the news of Lee’s passing only after the memorial service had already taken place. Laura woke up last Monday morning with the song “Piano Man” running through her head. For our family that song is forever fused with memories of Lee at the piano, so Laura checked Lee’s Facebook page and discovered the news and relayed it to me.
As I grow older, I realize that Lee is one of the best friends I will ever have. As roommates in college, he extended unconditional friendship to me over many years with unmatched generosity of spirit and open-hearted wisdom. I cannot now ever think of him without a sense of utter gratitude for his ongoing influence in my life, coupled with a sense of joy due to the sheer delight of that multitude of memories.
I think of Lee as Faramir, who in the books (not the movies) acted with deep and understated wisdom because of his receptivity to old lore; how fitting that it was Lee himself who first persuaded me to read J.R.R. Tolkien. That’s just one of countless ways I am thankful for how he continues to shape who I am.
A great light has passed out of this world. The loss is as inexpressible as the joys remembered. The new creation feels more like the home we long for now.
Time is precious. How foolish of me to assume that I could wait until retirement to reconnect after these many long years. Over the last few days, joyous and happy memories of Lee have been rising in my mind, a comfort indeed. This makes all the memories even more important to hold on to.
Candace and I pray for his family’s abiding comfort, both now and in the years to come.
