At age 97, Lee passed away peacefully on Christmas Day, December 25th, surrounded by family. Lee was born on February 21st, 1921 in Ashton, Idaho to Jess and Jesse Alexander. One of seven children, he began working at an early age to help support himself and his family during the depression. He met Lou Stroud in Idaho Falls and they married in Nov of 1940 and were married for 67 years until her death in 2008. Lee served in the Army's 11th Airborne Division as a Paratrooper in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After returning from the war he started back farming and driving truck. He continued working hard throughout his life eventually starting a roofing business, which became L.W. Vail Company, a road construction and paving business located throughout the Pacific Northwest. Along with his construction business, he also started VA Quarter Horse Ranch and raised working and racing Quarter Horses. The ranching business gradually turned to cattle Lee was one of the first breeders of purebred Charolais cattle in the Western US. He sold his construction business in 1977 and 'retired' to become a full-time farmer and rancher. He continued to farm in Pasco until his retirement in his late 80s. Lee had a lifelong love of the outdoors which included building his own log cabin, elk and deer hunting, and fishing of all kinds. He could master operating any piece of equipment he jumped on from a 1940s Flatbed Truck, to a D-8 Caterpillar Bulldozer, to eventually a computerized John Deere Tractor. Lee is survived by his six children, Dora Dee Alexander, Lola Brown, Bonnie Avila, Alan (Leslie) Alexander, Billie (Steve) McSwan, and Bobbie (David) Fischer, 18 Grandchildren, and numerous Great and Great-Great Grandchildren, his sister Wanda Carruthers and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife - Lou, his parents - Jess and Jesse, his brothers - Ern, Bud and Ted, sisters - Cordy and Gay, and grandson Robby Lee. The family would like to say "Thank You" to the caregivers at Hawthorne Court who provided him with such loving care, especially in his last months. A "Celebration of Lee's Life" will be held later this Spring. Burial will be at Desert Lawn Memorial Park (Kennewick). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name to Shriners Hospital Spokane, or Seattle Children's Hospital. The family invites you to sign their tribute wall at www.muellersfuneral homes.com

Published in Tri-City Herald on Dec. 30, 2018.
Contributor: Thomas Moak (47512799)