Dorothy Marie Lee, 101, of Paris and Tyler, was born on November 5, 1924, in Cooper, Texas, and passed away after a brief illness on February 23, 2026, at the Hospice of East Texas.

Marie was the fifth and youngest child of Thomas James (T.J.) and Gabrilla Elizabeth Dixon Robb.  She attended ten schools in her eleven years of public schooling, moving frequently during the Depression years due to her father’s job with Southern Pacific Railroad.  She landed in Paris, Texas, for her senior year at Paris High School just in time to meet a handsome young Navy recruit three days before he left for duty in World War II.  That young man, Ridjell Lee, would be the love of her life. When he returned to Paris after five years of service, they were married at First Baptist Church in Paris on June 1, 1946.  While Marie waited for her sailor to come home, she graduated from Paris High School and Paris Junior College.  A box full of their letters from the years apart is a family treasure. 

Marie was a devoted mother of three, consistently involved in church communities wherever her family settled.  The family lived in Lubbock, TX, Ft. Worth, TX, Roswell, NM, Albuquerque, NM, Columbia, SC, and Tyler, TX.  Marie held numerous positions throughout her career: insurance secretary, kindergarten teacher, medical secretary, school secretary, and middle school attendance clerk.  After all their children left for college and careers of their own, Marie and Ridjell relocated to Dallas, TX, where Marie worked for Dallas ISD as a teacher recruiter. She loved traveling the country to various college campuses with her recruiting team.  She retired in 1984, and returned with Ridjell to their hometown of Paris, TX, where they embraced a life full of family, friends, bridge, church and volunteering. Marie volunteered at the hospital, the Calvary Methodist church office, and the Paris Public Library. She also enjoyed playing piano for her Sunday school class.     

Following the passing of her husband in 2014, she lived independently in their Paris home until moving in 2021 to a senior living community in Tyler, TX.  There she had five more happy years making friends and playing bridge. She loved and cherished her family and friends. 

She was predeceased by her husband Ridjell, parents T.J. and Gabrilla Robb, sister Sylvia Kersey, brothers Delbert Robb, Glenn Robb and Homer Ray Robb.  Survivors include her children, Dr. Scott Lee (Carolyn) of Yakima, WA, Stacy Jarvis (Andy) of Bullard, TX, Tom Lee (Gina) of Houston, TX.  Grandchildren Patrick Lee (Karin) of Boise, ID, Andrew Lee (Lyndee) of Renton, WA, Justin Bono (Debbie) of Dallas, TX, Lindsay Bono Fisher (Chas) of Dallas, TX, Adam Lee (Chelsea) of Plano, TX, Austin Lee (Amy) of Houston, TX and fifteen great grandchildren.

A memorial celebration will be held at 1:00 p.m. on April 17th in Paris, Texas, at the pavillion in Evergreen Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations honoring Marie may be made to Calvary United Methodist Church of Paris, TX, the Paris Downtown Food Pantry or a charity of your choice.