Judith Lee

Our beautiful wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend, Judith Ann Lee, passed on Sept. 10, 2026.

She was 83. Judith was born May 12, 1943, in Bethany, MO, to Doris Lorene and Clarence Leroy Brown. She was a wartime baby joining her sister, Mary Jo. She joined a large family of uncles, aunts, and too many cousins to count. The family moved to Gladstone MO (Kanas City area) after WWII ended, and her father returned from many tours of duty.

She had a fantastic childhood in the hills of NW Missouri. She attended the University of Missouri in Columbia MO and received a BS in English and Spanish and a minor in French. She later completed her teaching certification.

In 1967, she married Steven Tarnoff and moved to Los Angeles CA. From that union came her only child, Christian. The brief marriage ended in 1970, and she moved back to Missouri to be close to her parents and family. She was a single mom working hard to make ends meet. It was during this period of work that she met the love of her life, Jerry W Lee. Jerry worked for the phone company, and they met when he was repairing the phones at her employer. The relationship blossomed and they married on Oct. 21, 1972. Joining this union came Jerry’s three children from his first marriage, Julia, James, and Jon. They were together for the next 54 years until her passing. They loved each other very much and took care of their family very well, raising all the kids with a strong work ethic and moral ground.

They lived in the rural Kansas City area, Jerry working for the phone company and Judith teaching school in Polo, MO. In 1976, they decided to move West. They debated many locations and chose Idaho Falls ID, finally settling in Rigby, ID. Here they raised Christian and somehow got him through high school and kept him out of jail. Julia, James, and Jon spent time with them throughout the years, some for extended periods. There were many adventures in the Salmon River area mushroom hunting and fishing in the areas surrounding the Snake River, and a lot of pizza, mineral pools, and golf at Heise Hot Springs.

Judith taught English, French, and Spanish at Rigby High School from 1981 until 1990. She was a beloved teacher and friend to so many students at the time. She touched many lives with kindness at Rigby High. She was the go-to most all her students would seek counsel, love, and help when they got in trouble! She stayed close with so many of those students throughout the balance of her life, too many to name.

In 1990, Jerry retired from the phone company after 32 years of service, taking an early buyout and giving them the opportunity to move back to Missouri and purchase a small farm with forested countryside, creeks, and wildlife. It was their happy place. During this time Julia, James, and Jon raised their children, and Judith and Jerry were a big part of their lives. Family adventures and gatherings were common at the farm.

In 1999, Christian and his spouse at the time, Bobbi, brought her pride and joy into the world, her granddaughter, Zoe Ann Lee. She spent time in Idaho helping and loving Zoe unconditionally. In 2002, her second pride and joy, Zachary Christian Lee, joined the family. She so longed to be closer to her young grandchildren, and she and Jerry sold their farm, moved back to Idaho in 2007, purchased a small brownstone home in old town Idaho Falls and lived there until the end. In 2011, an unexpected pride and joy came; Zavier Bradley Lee joined the family. She so loved her grandchildren, Chris, and Bobbi. She was always there for the family and never faltered in being the best Grandma on the face of the planet.

With a history of Alzheimer’s in her bloodline, telltale signs of this horrid disease started to show its ugly face around 2022. Jerry cared lovingly, faithfully, and unconditionally for Judith until it got to the point he could no longer manage without some help. In October 2025, Judith moved into Morningstar Assisted Living, and then in March 2026, to the Morningstar Reflections memory care facility. The staff at Morningstar are to be commended for the care they gave Judith during this time.

She is survived by her husband, Jerry; her children, Julia (Tony), James (Charlene), Jon (Lisa), and Christian; her many grandchildren and great grandchildren; niece, Rhonda Lovell; and nephews, Lee Baker and Gary Baker; and a multitude of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and sister, Mary Jo.

We will so miss her but are grateful her suffering has ended. Judith was adamant that she did not want a funeral service, so we will respect her wishes.

There will be a gathering to celebrate Judith from 6-8 p.m. Friday, September 25, 2026 at Wood Funeral Home, 237 N. Ridge Avenue.

Judith so cared for humanity and was always helping others. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Idaho Falls Community Food Basket or the Idaho Food Bank. No one deserves to go hungry.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.woodfuneralhome.com.