Richard Eugene Lee

Richard E. Lee was born and died on February 3rd. He lived all of his 82 years as a man of integrity and humor. He was born Richard Cruise in Winthrop, MA, son of Helen (O’Leary) and Edward Cruise. When he was nine, Richard and Helen moved to Hardwick, VT. She later married Sawyer Lee and he adopted Richard. Richard graduated from the Hardwick Academy and attended Johnson and Lyndon State Colleges, leaving there to go into the Army at the beginning of the Vietnam Conflict.

After his service, he moved back home with his mother and step-father, George Badger. Eventually, he married Carol (Billings) McGranahan and they had two children. Years later, he married Lee Ann (Wheeler) Lee and they had 6 more kids together. He worked for over two decades at the VT State Surplus Warehouse, but it was after his retirement, when he went to work in the fish department at the Morrisville Hannaford, when he became involved in the community. He served on the Lamoille Solid Waste District, the Hardwick Electric Board, and he was a member of the United Church of Hardwick, most recently serving as the Chair/Past Chair. He was a decades long member of the Hardwick American Legion Post # 7, and for over ten years, he served on the Wolcott Select Board.

Richard was a character. He loved a good joke and he kept people laughing. He had the gift of gab and he also had an extremely high intellect, which served him well when he was researching the things he liked to collect. He was an avid gun enthusiast and competitive shooter at muzzle loader competitions across the state and beyond, taking first place in most of the competitions he participated in for years.

Richard is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Lee Ann, his children: Kimberly, Jessica, Charles, Quentin and Mary, Graydon, Emma, Zoie and Savannah. Grandchildren: Caleb, Oliver and Amira. Siblings: Patricia and George, Janet, Larry, and Leslie. In-laws: Clarence and Lorelei, Mary and Earl, and John. Family of the heart: Lisa and PJ. He also leaves nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, Helen, George, Sawyer and Edward, in-laws, Hilda and Charlie, brother, Sawyer Wendall, sister-in-law, Eileen, and infant son, Dominic.

Arrangements are with the des Groseilliers Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at the United Church of Hardwick at 11:00 AM. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Hardwick American Legion Post # 7, from 12:30 - 3 PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to either the Lamoille Area Cancer Network or the Lift Fund at the United Church of Hardwick.

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