Johnnie "John" Lee

Johnnie “John” Curtis Lee, age 80, passed away on February 3, 2026. He was born on January 23, 1946, in Kansas City, Missouri.

John was the son of Zoe Miller Lee and Clyde Lee, both of whom preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jonette R. (Jo) Lee, whom he married in April of 1970.

John grew up in the Kansas City area and attended Northeast High School. He proudly served his country in the Army National Guard. Following his service, John dedicated many years to his career, working for Olathe Ford as a finance manager from 1977 until his retirement in 2011.

John truly cherished time spent with his family. He enjoyed traveling the world with his beautiful wife. They shared many trips for soccer tournaments and treasured time at the Lake of the Ozarks, where family time was always at the heart of every visit. John loved being the master of the grill and was happiest when surrounded by those he loved.

He also enjoyed attending car shows with his “Garage Guys,” spending a brief time racing, and sharing stories and laughter with friends. His compassion extended beyond people—John had a deep love for animals and showed kindness to every creature he encountered.

John was very involved and active in all of his grandchildren’s lives, whom he deeply cherished. He especially loved visiting with and spending time with his great-granddaughters.

John is survived by his brother, Charles Lee of Kansas City, Missouri. He leaves behind four daughters: Gia Lee of Olathe, Kansas; Melissa Lee of Olathe, Kansas; Megan Lee (Rick Curtin III) of Kansas City, Missouri; and Mandi Lee of Olathe, Kansas. He was a proud grandfather to six grandchildren: Moriah Lee (Thomas Tilton), Saige Killion, Alexa Lee, Rylan Lee, Sophia Lee-DiJols, and Boston Jesse. He was also blessed with two great-granddaughters, Storm and Nova Tilton.

John will be remembered for his devotion to family, his strong work ethic, his sense of humor, and the love he shared so freely. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

"Some of it's magic and some of it's tragic, but I had a good life all the way." --Jimmy Buffett