Ann Lee, of Coupeville, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019.

Ann was a kind, gentle woman, a believer in Jesus, and was beloved as a sweetheart, wife, mother and friend. She truly loved all of God’s little creatures.

Ann was born in San Francisco, Calif., on May 16, 1931, and, shortly after birth, was adopted by Thomas and Daisy Reynolds, along with her twin brother, Bob.

That couple later divorced, though, and she and another adopted brother, Edward, remained with Daisy. Daisy later married Tim Whelan, a career Navy officer. The family moved frequently, particularly during World War II, and lived on several naval air stations, where Tim was the commanding officer. After the war, he retired and they moved back to La Cañada, Calif.

Ann was a popular, athletic girl who, after attending some college, went to work as a teletype operator at the nearby California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. There, she met her lifelong husband, Army Lt. Donald Lee. They enjoyed an exciting courtship that began with a date at the local golf driving range, and within a year ended in a marriage that lasted 64 years. They had two sons, Howard and Steven.

After leaving the military, Don continued to work at JPL for an additional 10 years, after which they moved to Princeton University and later back to California and the TRW Space and Technology Company in Redondo Beach. The family lived in nearby Palos Verdes for the next 25 years.

Ann was a wonderful, supportive wife and mother who guided her family as a strong, baptized believer in Jesus. She was a helpmate to Don, managing the household, raising the boys, overseeing their schooling, and assisting in the many projects around the home. She was continually involved supporting her sons in their Boy Scout and Little League activities, and at their school.

During this time, Ann became quite involved in En Agape, a local women’s Bible study, and through that involvement she helped guide each member of the family into a personal relationship with Jesus. She sponsored a Bible study in her home for many years and she later became the office assistant for the American Christian Trust, a ministry that grew out of the En Agape study.

In 1988, Don retired and they purchased a piece of land on Whidbey Island and built their dream house on Race Lagoon. Ann loved decorating the new home, helping with the yard work and playing golf with Don. She served with Don on the board of Island Ministries, supported missionaries, and helped refurbish the church building which is now the home of Calvary Chapel Oak Harbor. She also served as a counselor for many years at the Pregnancy Care Clinic in Oak Harbor. She spent a great many hours at Meerkerk Gardens serving as a greeter and helper during special events, and she led hospitality for the local chapter of the American Rhododendron Society.

Ann was known to everyone as a caring, upbeat, supportive person, always ready to help — a truly sweet spirit. She is survived by her husband Don; her brother Ed; her two sons and their spouses, Howard and Maureen, and Steve and Christy; as well as her grandchildren Jessica, Joshua and Brian. She is preceded in death by her twin brother, Robert, and her granddaughter, Melanie.

A funeral service celebrating her life will be conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 2 at Calvary Chapel Oak Harbor, followed by a luncheon reception. There will be a visitation from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb., 1 at the Wallin Funeral Home in Oak Harbor.

Memorial donations may be made to Calvary Chapel Oak Harbor, 1560 S.E. 9th Ave, Oak Harbor, WA 98277, and Meerkerk Gardens, P.O. Box 154, Greenbank, WA, 98253.