Marita Louise Lee

Marita Louise (Brewer) Lee, 88, of Topeka, passed away Friday, August 3, 2012 at the Midland Hospice House, Topeka.

Marita was born May 2, 1924 in Topeka, the daughter of Hershel Elmer and Mary Elizabeth (Cook) Brewer. As a young child, she moved with her family to rural Lyndon, Kansas where she attended country schools, and graduated from Lyndon High School.

On August 28, 1941, she was married to Maurice H. Lee, Jr. in Walla Walla, WA. She and Maurice were married for 67 years. Maurice passed away on August 26, 2008. Marita was an avid genealogy buff. She traced her ancestry back several centuries. She was a direct decedent of John Alden and Priscella Mullins of the Mayflower. Marita also had several ancestors fight in the American Revolution. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Ottawa, KS. Marita was a talented artist, and was a member of the Artists Association of Topeka, Inc. She was a member of Countryside United Methodist Church, Topeka.

Maurice and Marita traveled throughout the lower 48 states and Canada on many fun trips hunting, fishing, researching family history, camping, visiting friends and family.

In addition to her husband, Marita was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Merlin Brewer and Derald "Chick" Brewer, and a sister, Laverta (Brewer) Walter.

Survivors include a daughter, Connie Diamond (Lloyd); son, Richard A. Lee (Kelly Rae) both of Topeka; 5 grandchildren, Daniel Diamond (Geneva) of Albany, GA; David Diamond (Lauri) of Columbus, NE; Krista Lee (Josh Gentry) of Reno, NV; Karla Meadors (John) of Silver Lake, KS and Samantha Rae Loughlin (Craig) of Manhattan, KS; 3 great-grandchildren, Eric and Melissa Diamond of Columbus, NE and Jesse Rickard of Silver Lake, KS; sister-in-law, Jean Brewer of Grandview, WA; brother-in-law Ed Walter of Cashmere, WA and several nieces and nephews that she loved as her own children.

A funeral service will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at the Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota Ave, Topeka. Interment will follow at Lyndon Cemetery, Lyndon, KS. The family will receive friends and family an hour prior to the service. Marita will lie in state from 3 to 8 p.m., Monday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Countryside United Methodist Church, 3221 SW Burlingame Rd, Topeka, KS 66611 or to Midland Hospice, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606 or to Helping Hands Humane Society, 2625 NW Rochester Rd., Topeka, KS 66617. To share your memories of Marita or leave a special condolence message for her family, please click the Send a Message button above.