Margarette Elaine Lee, age 73, of Cullman, Alabama passed away on Sunday, May 4, 2025.
Margarette Elaine Lee was born on May 23rd, 1951, in Cullman, AL. Better known to everyone as Kitty, she spent her life in Cullman, dedicated to the friends and family she loved. She passed from here Sunday, May 4th, 2025. She was preceded in death by her mother, Ruth “Boots” Lee and her father, Charles Luther Lee, Sr., and great-nephew Curtis Wilson.
Kitty is survived by her brother, Charles Luther “C.L.” Lee, Jr., nephews Dillon (Denise) Lee and Brandon (Helen) Lewis, nieces Chassi (Derrick) Waddell and Ashley Wilson, great-nephews Bishop Lee, Blaise (Kayland) Wilson, and Luke Wilson, great-niece Everette “Evie” Lee, her beloved “Golden Girl” cousins Jean (Jim) Ward, Kelley (David) Warren, and Jan Johnson, and many other loving family members and friends.
Kitty never married or had children of her own, but that is not her legacy. Kitty was a second mother to her niece, Chassi and her nephew, Dillon. She helped raise them alongside their grandparents and her brother, C.L. When with her, they never experienced want; they never lacked for love and support. Kitty spent countless hours with Chassi and Dillon in their youth, entertaining their flights of fancy and spoiling them with her attention. When Dillon’s children, Evie and Bishop were born, Kitty became another grandparent, doting on them both. If given all the choices on a weekend, Bishop and Evie would choose Kitty everytime.
There was a mischievousness to Kitty, as is the purview of the favored aunt. She was much more likely to give sly “yes” to the requests of her nieces and nephews. She would let them watch a movie their parents may have said no to or let them stay up and snack far past their bedtime. She cherished those moments of wily permissiveness, but beyond them she was an ever-present fan of their accomplishments. She attended every school event she could, keeping mementos and reminders of their triumphs, however small.
In her own unique way, she created a place in which children could be themselves, comforted in the knowledge that they were safe and loved. And spoiled. Evie and Bishop knew, as did Chassi and Dillon before, that her love was unwavering and unshakeable. For her, they were and remained the most important thing in her world.
Kitty could be terse, private, and reserved; some would even call her grouchy or grumpy. And that veneer was certainly true, but it was only the surface. Perhaps it was to protect her own gentle heart or perhaps it was a product of her German heritage. Regardless, those that knew Kitty knew she was much more than that. Underneath it all, she loved mightily and, as was her character, stubbornly. They knew a Kitty that was ready to take from life whatever joy was available, from a drink and long talk with a beloved friend, to a spur of the moment holiday trip, to an Alabama Crimson Tide football victory. They knew a Kitty that faced a cancer diagnosis over a decade ago and fought it, so she could remain to take care of her family. Through it all, she remained stubbornly present, fighting her fight with dignity, while looking after her family and stealing her moments of joy.
Though Kitty is gone from this world, her legacy remains. In her absence, all those that loved her should be encouraged to honor her by also loving stubbornly. You do not need to do so with an outpouring of affection, gentle words, or letters of encouragement. You must simply be present, dependable, unmoving in your love, as Kitty was. Create that safe harbor for those that are important to you. Be the person upon which those you love can depend, regardless of the need. That is the way her family will remember her. That is the way she lived her life to the very end.
On Friday, May 23rd, a Celebration of Life will be held at the Ruehl Building from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. A small private ceremony interring the ashes will follow at the family plot at Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to Curt’s Closet in Kitty’s memory.
