Cathy Jo (Budd) Lee

It is with great sadness that the family of Cathy Jo (Budd) Lee announces her passing on May 4, 2022, after an ongoing illness with Ovarian Cancer at the age 65 in Ashtabula, Ohio. She is preceded in death by her parents Lawrence R. Budd and Josephine J. (Carone) Budd, her older sister Mrs. Juanita Parrish and her brother Larry D. Budd Sr. She is survived by two children, daughter Katrina (Gerald) Lee Pelkey of Texas, son Gary (Amanda) Lee Jr. of Florida, her ex-husband Gary Lee of Texas, a brother Donald Budd Of North Carolina, five grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was born in Ashtabula Ohio, graduated in 1975 from Ashtabula High School and Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School where she studied Hotel-Motel Management. She married and moved to El Paso, Texas in 1976.

She worked with The Department of the Army as a Civil Servant in Worms, West Germany with the 5th Signal command starting in 1979; at Circle K in various positions for 8 years; at Budweiser, Desert  Eagle Distributing Company for 19 years. She also owned and operated CJ’s Sausage, a Hot Dog Cart business, in El Paso, Tx. Before her illness.

She received numerous commendations and awards including the third highest Civilian award (Command’s Award for Public Service) from The Dept. of the Army in 2007 for volunteering and support services to the Mobilization Deployment Brigade and US Army; Regional and Corporate commendations from the Circle K Corp., for producing their regional employee newsletter; President’s Award from Rotary Club/East El Paso 2004-2005 in recognition for achieving an array of accomplishments; Certificate of Appreciation from The Dept. of the Army in 2008  from CCSM Steve Rodgers for supporting military personnel at Ft. Bliss, Texas.

In March 2011 she started a meet up group in El Paso, Texas called www.meetup.com/ “ The Baby Boomer Bunch.” This group was formed to meet and make new friends with other Baby Boomer and to have fun by participating in various social events such as dining out, movies, games, billiards, museums, hiking, theater, ect. The group currently has over 100 members.

She served with The Association of The United States Army. Omar Bradley Chapter as their newsletter editor from 2005 until 2008. The chapter received awards for the best newsletter in the region. In 2011 she attended the Citizens Academy with El Paso Police Dept. and El Paso County Sheriffs Dept. receiving a Certification of Completion. She volunteered with the Rio Grande Cancer Foundation in El Paso, Texas for almost a year at Texas Oncology. She volunteered for a short period of time at the Ashtabula County Republican Party prior to becoming too weak. She was also a member of the VFW Post 812 in El Paso, Texas.

Upon learning of her illness in 2015 she started working with crafts, dabbling with greeting cards and other crafts from home. Other interests were cooking, playing cards, graphic arts, making newsletter, gardening and calligraphy.

We know she is with our Lord now and not in anymore pain. She requests no memorial service or flowers. Her ashes will be buried next to her brother, mom and dad at St. Joseph Cemetery in Ashtabula, Ohio. Condolences can be made at www.fleming.billman.com on her tribute wall. Any memorial donations may be made to the Animal Rescue League of El Paso, a no kill shelter located at 7256 La Junita Dr. Canutillo, TX 79835, www.arlep.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Cathy Jo (Budd) Lee, please visit our floral store.