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Longtime Steamboat Springs resident Winifred "Winnie" Lee died Dec. 10, 2006, of heart failure at her home in Steamboat. She was 81.
Born in Chicago on Jan. 16, 1925, Mary Winifred Shannon was the youngest of four children born to James and Winifred Shannon. She grew up in Chicago and graduated from Rosary College in 1946 with a bachelor's degree in English.
After college, she worked for Bell Telephone Company until 1956, when she met and married Thomas Lee of Chicago. They moved to Birmingham, Mich., where they had three children. Tom's career eventually took them to Dallas, Texas, and then to Steamboat in 1970. Winnie continued in her role as homemaker and mother. In 1972, she returned to work for Mountain Bell (later Qwest) in Steamboat until retiring in 1990.
Over the years, Winnie grew to love Steamboat and became very active in the community. She gave her time and energy freely to many organizations. She volunteered for LIFT-UP of Routt County, Hospice/VNA, the Hospital Auxiliary, Holy Name Altar and Rosary Society, Special Olympics and Girl Scouts.
She was an active member of the Steamboat Springs Health and Recreation Association and braved many a cold morning for her aqua aerobics class. She was a member of the LRC's, loved to play bridge, socialize and had a keen interest in her friends, family and community. Winnie devoted her life to her home, family and the many organizations she volunteered for. She will be remembered for her giving spirit.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Tom; her parents; her brother, James Shannon; and sister, Catherine Rigney.
She is survived by her brother, Joseph P. Shannon of LaGrange, Ill.; her daughter, Susie Lee of Steamboat; son, Bob Lee of Taichung, Taiwan, his wife Ping-ping and grandson, Nathan; and daughter, Katie Hegg of Boulder, her husband, Mark, and grandchildren, Nelson and Jamie Hegg.
A funeral was held Dec. 15, 2006, at Holy Name Catholic Church. She was loved by many and will be missed dearly. Memorial contributions may be made to LIFT-UP of Routt County or the Scleroderma Foundation in care of Yampa Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 776090, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477.