Michael "Mike" Duff Lee

Michael ("Mike") Duff Lee, age 71, of Hawesville, Kentucky, passed away on August 29, 2019. Mike was born on March 24, 1948, in Burkesville, Kentucky to Ruby and Homer Lee. Mike served in the United State Navy from 1966-1970 as an engineman primarily aboard ships in the Mediterranean and achieved the rank of 3rd class petty officer. Later, Mike attended Western Kentucky University and served as Recruiting Chairman of the Veteran's on Campus Club. Mike increased membership from 40 to 110 members over a 2-year time span. While attending Western Kentucky, Mike married Diane Ruth McNeil, of Illinois, on August 11, 1973. Mike had a varied work career. He owned/operated a tractor trailer rig providing cross country transportation, worked as a truck driver for a moving company, was a member of a survey crew for an engineering company that performed gas pipeline installations and performed river crossing surveys. Mike also worked with his father-in-law, Everett McNeil, in Illinois, grain farming and raising livestock. Mike was also a Class 4 certified wastewater treatment plant operator and worked in plants in Illinois and Kentucky. Mike loved hunting and fishing and being outdoors. He loved playing rummy with his friends and was an excellent euchre player. Collecting and trading guns and knives was also his passion. Mike was a member of the Hilldale United Methodist Church in Lewisport, Kentucky. Mike is survived by: his sister, Sandra Stearns, of North Carolina; his sister-in-law, Barbara McNeil, of Ohio; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ken and Kathy McNeil, of Illinois; and his nephews Kyle (Katie) McNeil and Matthew McNeil. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, brother-in-law, Joseph Stearns, sister-in-law Mary Ellen Jackson and nephews David Stearns, John Stearns and Johnathon McNeil, locally he is survived by his cousins, Alta Flo and Doug Lewis of Burkesville, Kentucky. The service was held on Thursday, September 5, 2019, at Gibson & Son Funeral Home in Hawesville, Kentucky. Donations may be made to the Hilldale United Methodist Church, 750 Hilldale Road, Lewisport, Kentucky 42351. Norris-New Funeral Home in Burkesville, Kentucky is honored to share this obituary as a professional courtesy.

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