Daily Sitka Sentinel

Former Sitkan Cynthia Lee Dies in Washington at 63

 

Cynthia Druscilla Lee

Cynthia Druscilla Lee, who grew up in Sitka, died at her home in Blaine, Washington, on May 3, 2021. She was 63.

Cynthia was born Aug. 16, 1957, in Seattle, Washington, the daughter of Isabelle A. (Moreno) and Robert E. Lee Sr.

Although she was born in Seattle Cynthia was raised in Sitka, along with her 10 other brothers and sisters. It was while in Sitka that she met and married Bob Hasty, and gave birth to her daughter Shara. Later she was married to Rodger Bar and Bob Cowell.

She moved to Whatcom County Washington later on to be near most of her family.

Cynthia loved to take road trips with her sister Wendy, which she called the Laventures because something funny would always happen. Nearly every year she also took a fun trip with Margaret, a dear friend of many years.   

Cynthia made friends everywhere she went. She loved the beach and really enjoyed antiquing. She and Lloyd had a running joke: when they called each other, they had to answer before the other spoke with “What kinda Card are you?”

“Our Cynthia was a total goofball and was always up for some fun,” her family said. “It seemed as though a smile never left her face.”

She cared deeply for family and was always there when something happened. She looked for heart shapes everywhere and when she found one she’d say, “That’s Mom!”

Children were a major magnet for Cynthia. If you wanted to know where she was at a gathering all you had to do was find the children, her family said.

She was preceded in death by her dad, Robert Lee, her mom, Isabelle Lee, her stepdad, Ed Soderberg; and siblings, Richard (who died as an infant), Danny, Robert, and John.

She is survived by her daughter, Shara (Brent) Ferrantelli, and her granddaughter, Neva; her sisters, Darlene (Dennis) Beam, Doreen (Dennis) Garrity, and Wendy Johnson; brothers Harry (Vickie) Lee, Steven (Elizabeth) Lee, Lloyd (Bev) Lee and Kevin (Annetta) Lee; and sister-in-law Karen Lee (Robert).

She also is survived by, and blessed by, numerous nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and -nephews, all of whom she doted on.

Cynthia will be deeply missed by her family and all who knew and loved her, her family said. “She faced many obstacles in her life and things were not always easy for her, but she developed a deep love for the Lord, and we can take solace in the fact that she is with Him now and we will see her again one day” the family wrote.

A private graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 22, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Ferndale, Washington. Since she loved the beach so much, a public life celebration picnic will follow at the new enclosure at Birch Bay State Park in Blaine.

Family and friends may share memories and condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com.