Robert G. Lee

Robert G. Lee, 95, of Happy, Texas passed away on Sunday, May 5, 2024. Graveside services will be held at 9:30 A.M. on Friday, May 10, 2024 at Happy Cemetery with a memorial service following at 11:00 A.M. at the First Baptist Church of Happy, with Dr. Stephan Vernon officiating.

Robert, or Lee as many called him, was also known as "Mr. Nice Guy" and wore a tooled belt with that written on the back. He was truly a man of humor and loved practical jokes, as attested to in his book, "Happy Tales." Robert enjoyed playfully referring to himself as 'the nicest guy in Happy, Texas.'

He was born and raised in Shamrock, Texas delivering ice and working various jobs at a young age. He graduated from West Texas State College at the same time as his mother, both with a teaching degree. He taught school at Kelton, Texas for a few years and married Joline Whitlow in 1950. He went to work for his father-in-law at Happy Elevator, and then opened a lumber/hardware store in Happy. He closed the store in 1982 and sold real estate for a time. He wrote columns for The Canyon News about life in Happy, which resulted in his book "Happy Tales." He taught us all how to live and enjoy life.

Robert was active in the Boy Scouts as a member of the Llano Estacado Council and was awarded the Silver Beaver, the highest adult award in the Boy Scouts of America. He was known for his caregiving, caring for his wife, his parents, his mother-in-law, and an old competitor and mentor, Jack and Eleanor Helwig.

He loved the Lord and taught his sons how to love Jesus by his words and actions. He was a deacon at the First Baptist Church in Happy and played Santa Claus at the church every Christmas. He was known in his later years by the children at church as the "Bubblegum Man." He rode his bicycle from Happy to Canyon every year around his birthday with the last time being his 80th birthday. He leaves a legacy in Happy with many friends who loved him. He moved to assisted living at Connor Place in Canyon in December 2021 where the girls there cared for him like granddaughters. They were wonderful.

Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Jewell Lee, his wife, Joline, his sister, Shirley, a nephew, and a niece.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Bob and Deborah Lee and Don and Kathi Lee, all of Canyon; four grandchildren, Jared Lee and wife Ariel of Canyon, Robyn Birkenfeld and husband, Blake of Keller, Tucker Lee and wife, Brittny of Canyon, and Hunter Lee and wife, Tayler of Dallas; eight great-grandchildren, Atticus, Simon, and Judah Lee, Braxton and Britton Birkenfeld, Griffin Lee, and Meyer and Sloan Lee; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; and a special friend, Ella Spear.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests you forward an act of kindness, enjoy a harmless practical joke, or send donations to a favorite charity.