Raymond Lee, 77, entered the gates of heaven on December 28, 2022.  Born on October 2, 1945 in Jersey City, New Jersey to the late Einar and Roberta (Hazelrigg) Lee, Raymond was the light in our lives and the soul of our hearts.  He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend.  He possessed a charm and manner all is own.

Raymond grew up in Denville, New Jersey and graduated from Morris Hills Regional High School in 1964 where he then went on to marry his high school sweetheart Margaret (Mitchell) Lee.  He worked as a splicing technician for Bell Atlantic Telephone Company for 25 years.

Raymond was a proud veteran of the United States Army where he earned the rank of Corporal.  He served in A Battery, 2 ^nd Battalion, 77 ^th Artillery Regiment of the 4 ^th Infantry Division as a Field Artillery Operator/Intelligence Assistant where he was tasked with observing enemy positions and collecting intelligence on their exact location and activity.  He fought in major engagements such as the Battle of Suoi Tre and Operation Junction City.    He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and was honorably discharged on November 9, 1967.   He is a lifetime member of the VFW Post 10420 in Murrells Inlet, SC.

Raymond was a very talented, passionate woodcarver.  He was a member of the National Wood Carvers Association and a former member of the Pocono Wood Carvers Association.  His carvings are in many places around the world.  He enjoyed golfing with many wonderful friends.  He loved his time and travels with his grandchildren, who were the joys of his life.  His hobbies were doing crossword puzzles, playing scrabble and carving.

Raymond is survived by his wife, Margaret (Mitchell) Lee; his beloved daughters, Triste Lee-Booth, Tammy Lee Morsch and Raena Lee Rodriguez;  his six (6) grandchildren, Broghan Booth, Lowen Booth, Griffin Morsch, Beckett Morsch, Xavier Rodriguez and Zander Rodriguez; the best son-in-law's ever, Rick Booth, Michael Morsch and Al Rodriguez; his siblings, Ronald Lee, Donna Molnar and Roberta Buccarella and many beloved cousins and nieces.

He is predeceased by his mother and father, Roberta and Einar Lee, his sister, Cynthia Swayze and his brother, Thomas Lee.

The longevity of his life was due in part to the excellent medical care he received from Dr. Jimmy Kontos, Dr. Jerry Watson and Jeffrey Weeden, P.A., from the Grand Strand Heart Clinic and Dr. William Prenatt with Carolina Health Specialists.  Our family would like to acknowledge and thank all of the first responders, the emergency medical team at the Grand Strand Hospital and the 911 operator for their compassion and professionalism.

Our hearts are broken as we try to navigate this life without him, but his spirit lives on in everything we do or say and in all of his children's and grandchildren's accomplishments and love of life.

A celebration of life will be announced at a future date.