Navajo Indian Leader George P. Lee Dead at 67
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George P. Lee
He attended Shiprock Boarding School before becoming one of the first Navajos in the LDS church Indian Placement Program, living with the Glen and Joan Harker family in Orem, Utah. Lee remained in their home for seven years, returning to his Navajo family during summer vacations, until he graduated from Orem High School in 1962. After graduating from high school, Lee served as a missionary for the LDS church to the Navajo Nation, known then as the "Southwest Indian Mission" to which he would later return as Mission President in 1975.
Lee attended Brigham Young University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree and Masters Degree from Utah State University. He returned to BYU where he became the first Native American to receive a Doctorate (PhD) in Educational Administration.
He married Katherine Hettich, a Comanche from Oklahoma in 1967. They had 7 children. He was a member of the LDS church and served in various church positions before being called to the newly formed First Quorum of the Seventy on October 3, 1975 by President Spencer W. Kimball at the age of 32. He was the first Native American general authority in LDS church. The church announced on September 1, 1989, that Lee had been excommunicated for "apostasy and conduct unbecoming a member of the Church." He was a dynamic and captivating speaker leaving lasting impressions.
His family said he loved God, his people, basketball and fishing. He could often be found shooting “hoops” with his boys while still in his suit after work and he was a deadly 3-point shooter, they added. Summers often brought fishing trips and excursions to the reservation where he ran for Navajo Nation Tribal president in 1994.
He is survived by his seven children, Dwayne, Chad, Tricia, Robyn, Todd, Scott and Jacob along with 15 grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings Lucy and Bob. He was preceded in death by his parents, step-sister Nelli, step-brother Mike, brothers Joey, Pat, Clifford and grandson Jermyn Lee.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00am Tuesday, August 3rd at the LDS Washington Buena Vista Stake Center, 860 North Fairway Drive, Washington Utah. A viewing will be held at 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Monday, August 2nd at the Spilsbury Mortuary located at 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. There will also be a visitation prior to the funeral on Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30 am at the stake center. Interment will take place in the Washington City Cemetery, Washington, Utah. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary
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KCSG Television's public inspection files, including the Children's Television Programming Reports and the DTV Quarterly Activity Station Report, are available for viewing during regular office hours 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
software copyright © 2010 matchbin inc. content copyright © 2010 KCSG site. business listing data provided in part by Localeze.
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George P. Lee stepped to the empty microphone on the large screen in front of me and over the next few minutes my life took a dramatic turn for the better.
His words touched me, spoke to my soul and moved me. This man before me had something special, knew something, felt it deeply so that it was a part of him, his essence.
He was reading the talk from the teleprompter but the words, despite an accent I was not familiar with, were fluid and evoked a conviction I had never experienced before. They sprang from his heart and landed on my ears like thunder. And I found myself brushing rivers of tears from my eyes.
George P. Lee spoke to me that day, a kindred spirit, a Child of God who had stepped to that pulpit with a message seemingly for my heart alone. That spirit drove me and emanated from me with passion for the rest of my LDS mission.
When I later learned of his excommunication it was at the very same time that I was learning that the man who had been my mission President was also excommunicated from the Church. I was devastated by the fall of these mighty men who had been such an influence on my life. But that testimony George P. Lee bore that day, which channeled through him to me, was unshaken.
Whatever the conditions that lead to Elder Lee taking the path he did, whether it was within his mortal control or causally beyond it; I am confident that a loving Heavenly Father has nothing but happiness and peace for one of his chosen children. One of the elect.
God bless his memory.