Lee Orville Reynolds, aged 85, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Monday, June 9 after a brief battle with cancer. A man of generosity and unwavering integrity, Lee was deeply devoted to his family, friends, animals, and the beauty of God's creations. He lived his life as a true American patriot and proudly served his country in the United States Navy. He was a champion of free speech and the right to keep and bear arms. Those who knew Lee will remember him as the quiet presence in the room, yet the one who earned the deepest respect.

Born in Lansing, Michigan, to Carol and Reginald Reynolds, Lee grew up in a large family with six siblings. Lee spent his early childhood traveling across various parts of America with his mother and siblings. As a teenager, Lee and his younger brother, Paul, had many adventures while living with their father, a forest ranger, at both Patagonia and Young Arizona ranger stations. It was there he discovered his passion for the outdoors, nature, hunting and firearms.

Lee went on to enlist in the U.S. Navy, serving as an instrumentation technician aboard the USS Coral Sea. His time in the military not only helped shape his character but also laid the foundation for his remarkable technical abilities. A self-taught genius, Lee had a unique ability to repair anything with a circuit or moving parts - a skill likely refined during his time in the Navy, his work as a technician in the aerospace industry in Arizona, and his 35 years as a millwright in the Bitterroot.

After his military service, Lee married the love of his life, Rosanne Fox. Together the couple began a new chapter in Phoenix, Arizona, where they started a family. After a visit to the Bitterroot to see his brother Paul, Lee and Rosanne were inspired to settle there in 1968. In his early years, he was an avid hunter, with memorable moments such as harvesting a bighorn sheep shortly after arriving in Montana and assisting his wife on a successful goat hunt. In his later years, Lee delighted in being amidst nature and spending evenings by the river with his devoted canine companion, often spotting for game. His beloved black lab, Gus, will miss him dearly.

Lee is preceded in death by his parents Reginald Reynolds and Carol Turner and his brother Paul. Lee is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years, Rosanne; his three daughters, Melanie, Kimberly (Joe) Granvold, and Rehnna (Justin) Merkel; granddaughters Meaghan, Amanda and Jennifer; grandsons Wyatt and Andy; and ten cherished great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Junie Bouten (Paradise, AZ), Marcia Porter (Missoula, MT), Jeanna Kuhlman (Delores, CO), Rosalyn Dawkins (Missoula, MT), and many other "step-door-neighbor-in-laws" as Lee would have described them!  His family mourns the loss of a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, but they celebrate the profound impact he had on their lives and the memories they will carry forever.

Lee was deeply proud of his daughters and grandchildren, who meant the world to him.  He will be remembered as a man who embodied the values of hard work, loyalty, and love—an individual who lived with quiet grace and left an indelible mark on all who knew him. His quiet demeanor belied an extraordinary depth of character, earning him admiration and trust from all who crossed his path. A man of precision and brilliance, his talents remain unmatched, his wit and sense of humor are cherished, and his legacy of kindness and integrity endures. May he rest in peace, knowing the lives he touched will forever be guided by his example.

His family extends their gratitude to Bitterroot Health Hospice for their loving care, professionalism and kindness.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 2nd at the Darby Clubhouse at 1:00 p.m.