Shirley Mae Green Lee

With full hearts and misty eyes, we share the peaceful passing of our beloved Shirley Mae Green Lee—known lovingly to most as “Meme.” She was a devoted wife, a fiercely loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a Meme to anyone blessed enough to cross her path.

Born in Greenport, Long Island to Edward Herrick Green Jr. and Alice Elizabeth Rackett Green, Shirley spent her early days crafting, fishing with her father, laughing with her sisters, and developing a love of fresh seafood and the sea - traits that have been inherited across generations.

Everything changed one day on the sands of Daytona Beach, when a “no-good” sailor from Kentucky spotted “those legs” and just had to know the girl behind them. That began a love story for the ages, complete with plane-hopping, hitchhiking, and a lot of faith. It ended (or rather, began) with a country boy from Carlisle, Kentucky claiming her heart—and starting a life together that spanned decades. After moving to Kentucky in 1956, Shirley and Sanford Lee built not only a home, but a business, Lee Tire, that is still run by family today. Her deep love for children led her to open a daycare at Central Baptist, while their shared passion for music took them on countless adventures, performing together alongside friends and family at churches, festivals, and venues near and far.

Their love was legendary. Together they raised a family filled with laughter, music, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting. Meme had a gift for making people feel seen, known, and loved. She welcomed everyone with a hug, a hot meal (special shout out to the Sunday morning breakfast tradition), and a little music in the background. She never met a stranger, never missed a beat, and never let a baby go without a hat and jacket. Affectionately, she was his "Sugar Britches" and he was her "Honey". Upon his passing at the ripe age of 80, she honored him with her first tattoo. She didn't stop there, getting her second tattoo at 88 years old in honor of her late granddaughter.

She sang. She danced. She cooked. She raised babies, and gave the best advice—solicited or not.

She was preceded in death by her parents Edward Herrick Green Jr. and Alice Elizabeth Rackett Green; her sisters, Margaret Elizabeth Green Foster and Edwina Green Skrezec; her daughter, Sheryl Alice Lee; her beloved husband, Sanford Julian Lee; and her granddaughter, Brooke Lynnaie Butler Ritchey.

Shirley is lovingly survived by her children: Sanford Edward Lee, James William Lee (Eleanor), Julianne Lee Huston (Randy), and Jodi Lynn Lee Butler (Burt); Her grandchildren: James Marshall Edward Lee (Heather), Lauren Elizabeth Butler Jones (Matt), Allison Chenault Lee McCoy (John), Burton Jay Butler II, Morgan Ashlee Butler Zornes (Josh), Hannah Lee Huston Rivera (Joshua), and Lawrence Gene Ritchey (Laura); And her cherished great-grandchildren: Emily Elizabeth Lee, Hayden Lee Snipp, Lena Claire Lee, Jackson Louis Jones, Baylee Elizabeth Jones, Alexander James Lee, Liam Vaughn Haas, Benjamin Julian Maldonado, Jacob Anthony Rivera, Hunter Lucas Rivera, Tyler Howard Rivera, and Scarlett Rose Rivera.

Her legacy lives on in the family she built, the music she shared, and the warmth she gave so freely. Meme was truly one of a kind and we were all blessed to be loved by her.

Shirley’s family will greet friends from 5~8 PM Monday, Aug. 11, at Hager & Cundiff Funeral Home.

On Tuesday, Aug. 12, the family invites everyone to a time of Sharing Stories and Fellowship from 12~1 PM at The Oaks, 205 West Oak Street, Nicholasville, with a Memorial Service starting at 1:00 PM. Shirley will then be laid to rest with her husband Sanford at Camp Nelson National Cemetery on Tuesday at 2:30 PM.

This obituary was lovingly submitted by the Lee Family. Arrangements are under the direction of Hager & Cundiff Funeral Home, and we would like to express our deepest sympathy to Shirley’s family and friends.