Lee Clark Field, Jr.

July 16, 1925 – November 5, 2009

Longtime Pauls Valley native Lee C. Field, Jr., died peacefully at home on the evening of November 5 after a brief illness surrounded by his devoted wife and grateful children. His perpetual smile, joyful demeanor and positive attitude, with him always–even at the end–will be treasured, remembered and missed by all who knew him.

Lee Jr., as he was known by many, was born in Pauls Valley in 1925, the first of three sons of Zora and Lee C. Field, Sr. He was a top student and athlete in the PV schools and served as a page at the state Capitol for Sen. Homer Paul. He started at tailback on the Panther football team his Freshman through Junior years. He graduated from Perry High School in 1943.

Like many of his generation, Lee Jr. enlisted for WWII in 1942. After his service and honorable discharge, he attended OSU and OU and later joined the family business, Field Bros. service station, an Oklahoma institution started in 1919, which he purchased from his father in the ’60s and operated until its sale in 1982.

In 1984 he joined the FAA, continuing a lifelong love of aviation, and served in approach control towers in Louisiana, Dallas Love Field and finally at DFW, retiring in 1989.

A member of the Rotary Club and past President of the PV All Sports Association, Lee Jr. was an Elder and long-standing member of the First Christian Church. He was also an accomplished private pilot, earning advanced multi-engine and instrument ratings to go along with the Cessna airplane he owned in the ’60s and ’70s. His many hours logged with fellow pilot and wife, Jeanne, included trips throughout the country, to both coasts and all major airports as well as trips to Canada and Mexico, devoted primarily to one of his major activities, sport fishing. He loved pond fishing for largemouth bass and later made annual fall and spring trips to Lake Texoma for striper bass fishing. He was also an excellent golfer and duplicate bridge player, traveling far and wide to engage in both.

Lee Jr. is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jeanne; three children, E’Clair (Candy) Lee of North Hollywood, CA, Lee (Bud) Field of Washington, DC and Della Larimore of Pasadena, CA; two brothers and their wives, David and Sue Field of Oakdale, CA, and Bob and June Field of Foster City, CA; many nephews and nieces; and grandchild Casey Larimore Wilson and her husband Sam of San Leandro, CA, and their four-week-old son, Tobias Alan, the first great-grandchild.

His family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Valley Hospice, Box 368, Pauls Valley, OK 73075. According to his wishes, no public services or memorials will be held.