Lee Boehme, Jr.

Lee Roy Boehme, Jr. passed peacefully from this life to his heavenly place with God April 14, with much of his family at his side. He was 79 years old and born in Orange, Oct. 10, 1936, to Lee Roy Boehme, Sr. and Eldred Hebert Boehme.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Jeanette Coggin Boehme; children Pamela Boehme Simon, Sheila Boehme and David Coggin Boehme and wife Amy all of Orange and Dr. Christopher Boehme of Houston; grandchildren Eric Simon, Timothy Davis, Daniel Simon, Jonathan Davis, Elizabeth Boehme, Christopher Jannise, Kathryn Boehme, Penelope Boehme, Simon Boehme and Kimberly Jannise. Survivors also include his sister, Kaylard LeBouef, niece Leah LeBouef and nephews Terry LeBouef and Tyler LeBouef.

He was a lifelong member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Orange where he often served as an usher. He graduated from St. Mary School in 1954 and attended Lamar University in Beaumont where he studied Mechanical Engineering. He was a supervisor at DuPont Sabine River Works and was employed there for 40 years. He was famous for being able to ‘fix’ almost anything. A perfectionist by nature, his mechanical repairs, carpentry work and understanding of how things work were masterful.

Devoted to the Orange Lions Club, he had perfect attendance for almost 48 years until his illness. The big ferris wheel was ‘his’ and is even named for him. Twice named Lion of the Year in the years of 1983-84 and 2006-07, he also received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award in 1994, 95. He loved Lionism and devoted much of his life supporting it.

Lee Roy enjoyed water sports and was an avid water skier. He won many barefoot tournaments and was one of the first members of the famed Aqua Demons and Debs Ski Club where he performed trick skiing, jumping, slalom and building the ski pyramids. As a publicity stunt for the team, he once skied on one ski from Orange to Galveston.

Lee Roy also loved his church, his family and life. He was an humble, quiet, kind man who was revered by everyone who knew him and held up as an example for all to follow.

Pallbearers include Eric Simon, Timothy Davis, Daniel Simon, Jonathan Davis, Terry LeBouef, Tyler LeBouef and Josh Allbright.

Special thanks go to Southeast Texas Hospice, and his in-home caregivers: Geraldine Beasley, Vicki Joseph, Velma Hopkins, Annie Wilks and Jo Ann Stevens.

His services include visitation at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange, Sunday, April 17, from 5:00-8:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church, Monday, April 18, at 10:00 a.m., with the Rev. Joseph P. Daleo as officiant. Interment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to St. Mary Catholic School, 2600 Bob Hall Road, Orange, TX 77630 or to Lions Eye Bank, P.O. Box 1572, Orange, TX 77631.