Lionel "Lee" Love

Lionel “Lee” Love, age 83, of Grants Pass, died Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at Royale Gardens Health & Rehabilitation Center.

A viewing will be from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday, February 21, 2011 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors.

A funeral service will begin at 2:00 p.m., Monday February 21, 2011 at Hull & Hull Chapel with Pastor Dennis Webber officiating. Private interment will be at Eagle Point National Cemetery.

Lee was born on April 2, 1927 in Durant, Oklahoma to Felix & Edna Love. He and his family moved to California during the “Great Depression”. He grew up there with three younger sisters, Oleta, Jeri, and La Wanda. In 1949 Lee married Joy of El Cajon, California. They had a baby girl named Sandy in 1950. Lee and Joy were divorced. In 1964 Lee moved to Grants Pass, Oregon. He was a Union Carpenter and helped build the Grants Pass Job Corp (now Rogue Community College,) Lost Creek Dam & Fish Hatchery and the Alaskan Pipeline. In 1966 Lee met and married Leota Stansfield. They loved to dance. In March 1968 Lee became the proud father of a baby boy, James Christopher. Lee’s daughter, Sandy, surprised him with a baby granddaughter, Nikol in April of 1969. In June of 1970 Lee & Leota were blessed with a bubbly little girl, Gina Rae. Lee was a terrific father taking part in all his children’s activities. He especially loved looking forward to returning to Oklahoma each summer, a place where his heart always remained. Lee’s family enjoyed time with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Lee spent the last three years at Royal Gardens Health & Rehabilitation Center. He loved his caregivers and they called him “Papa”. They have always been such a comfort to him and his family.

Lee and Leota spent five years as members of the Grants Pass Intertribal Pow Wow Committee. It really helped fill in the “Empty Nest Syndrome” they were feeling, plus they made some really great friends.

He is survived by his wife, Leota of Grants Pass; two daughters, Sandy & husband, Ken Brock of El Cajon, California and Gina & husband, Phil Morton of Jacksonville, Oregon; a son, Jim & wife Stephanie Love of Grants Pass, Oregon; two granddaughters, Nikol Salas of California and Luciana of Grants Pass, Oregon; two great-grandchildren, Cruz and Cheyenne of California; three sisters, Oleta Woodard of Salem, Oregon, Jeri of Cashatt, California and LaWanda Luton of Durant, Oklahoma.