Nancy Mills Lee

Nancy Mills Lee, 87, died on January 12, 2015, in Albuquerque, NM. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Day Lee; daughter, Pamela Lee Cranston (Edward) of Oakland, CA; daughter-in-law, Margaret Lee of New Ipswich, NH; granddaughter, Rebecca Lee of New York City; brother, John Welch Mills (Louise) of Kenilworth, IL. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Wilbur Thoburn Mills, Jr. and Margaret Welch Mills, and her son, David Currie Lee. Born on February 17, 1927, in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Nancy was an alumna of Flora Stone Mather and Laurel Schools in Cleveland. She attended Smith College and earned a bachelor’s degree in English and drama from Case Western Reserve University. She did additional coursework in drama at both Smith and Bates Colleges. After WW II, she worked in Paris for the Economic Cooperation Administration (ECA), which was known as the Marshall Plan. On September 9, 1950, Nancy married Day Lee, son of Ronald Currie Lee and Louise Day Putnam Lee, at the Plymouth Congregational Church in Shaker Heights. Passionate about theater and music, Nancy performed and directed in three acting companies: the Dramalites in Washington, CT; the Stockade Players in Deerfield, MA; and the Arena Civic Theater in Greenfield, MA. She also taught drama and English at Bement and Stoneleigh-Burnham Schools as well as English at the American School in Lugano, Switzerland. Nancy served as the church organist and director of the junior choir at the UCC Church in Washington, CT, and she sang in the Pioneer Valley Symphony Chorus (MA) for three decades. In addition to her involvement in the performing arts, Nancy was a published writer, archivist, and researcher for the Keene Valley (NY) Library and the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association (MA), where she served as a docent for Historic Deerfield. In 2006, her monograph, Samuel Willard: Minister, Educator, Musician, Agent of Change, was published by the PVMA. Nancy loved life. As a young woman, she enjoyed horseback riding, sailing, and swimming. She was also an avid reader of mysteries and literature, particularly the works of Jane Austen. Throughout her life, she traveled widely, dabbled in photography, completed the daily New York Times crossword puzzle, and adored standard poodles. Above all, Nancy was the heart of the Lee family, opening her summer home to every generation for over 40 years. She will be fondly remembered. Gifts in Nancy’s memory can be sent to the Keene Valley Library, P.O. Box 86, Keene Valley, NY 12942, or to the Pioneer Valley Symphony and Chorus, 91 Main Street, Greenfield, MA 01301. A Memorial Service to celebrate Nancy’s life will be held at the Congregational Church in Keene Valley, NY, in the summer of 2015.