R.L. Lee

Funeral services for R.L. Lee, of Soper, Okla., were held at 10 a.m. March 12, 2022 at Miller & Miller Funeral Home Chapel. R.L. passed away March 9, 2022, at the age of 89.

Royce Leonard “R.L.” Lee was born on May 21, 1932 in Unger, Okla., to Ed and Ruth (Harless) Lee. He was proceeded in death by his parents; wife, Jan (Garrard) Lee; brothers: Joe Ed Lee, Wayne Lee and Wilburn Lee; sisters: Wilma Lee, Joyce Robison, Katherine Mullins, Linda Sullivan and Adell Lee.

R.L. was a lifelong resident of the Unger and Soper community. He proudly served his country during the Korean War as a member of the U.S. Army, and he was proud to be a veteran. After returning home, he married the love of his life, Jan Garrard on March 12, 1955, and they started their beautiful life together in the Soper area. R.L. was a merchant at heart and an excellent businessman, he loved to make money. In the 60s, he and his wife helped R.L.’s parents run Lee Groceries. Later in the 1970s they even opened their own store, Lee’s Salvage Grocery in Soper and Hugo. After selling the stores, R.L. bought a pecan orchard and started running cattle. Throughout the years, R.L. also worked at several different sale barns. He retired at the age of 40 but continued to stay active around the community.

R.L. enjoyed going to car auctions, the sale barns every week and to the Brinkley Actions every chance he had. His favorite pastime was going to Soper Café to drink coffee and visit with the people in the community. R.L. was a legend, always had a smile on his face and he loved people, never meeting a stranger. Overall, R.L. was a kind, loving and hardworking man. He loved his family, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

R.L. is survived by his son, Steve Rouse and wife, Gwen of Hugo; daughters: Leta Elliott and husband, Scott of Soper and Sheila Kidd and husband, Howard of Sawyer, Okla.; sister, Betty Pittman and husband, Ellis of Cartwright, Okla.; grandchildren: Matt and Alicia Rouse, Julia and Jason King, Trevor and Jaclyn Rouse, Jeremy and Alexis Elliott, Jannita and Kennth Daniel, and Stephanie and John Crawford; great-granchildren: Ellie, Cade, Jaydon, Jayse, Alexia, Hunter, Lucy, Lillian and Madelyn Claire (on the way), along with numerous other relatives and friends.

Interment followed the service at Soper Cemetery with Donnie Wagner officiating, under the direction of Miller & Miller Funeral Home.

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