Ermalee C. Albright

Lee Albright was born on October 26, 1929, in Barry County, Missouri to Robert L. and Bessie E. Cline. She passed into the arms of Jesus on November 17, 2021, in Eureka, California at the age of 92.

Lee grew up in Monett, Missouri graduating from Monett High School in 1947. She attended Cottey College in Nevada, MO and then Drury College in Springfield, MO where she graduated in 1950. She earned her master's degree in Education from Humboldt State University in 1985.

She met Claude "Duke" Albright, a fraternity brother of her brother, John while attending Drury. They married in Monett on June 9, 1951.
Lee taught elementary school briefly in Monett and then in Richmond, California while Duke was attending seminary in Berkeley. After he graduated, they moved to Boulder, Colorado when he was called to serve at a Congregational Church as a minister to students at the University of Colorado. Their daughter, Debbie, was born there in 1954.

In 1955 they were called to serve at a church in Fairfax, California. In 1958 they moved to Arcata where they planted a new Congregational Church in Sunny Brae. Their son, Mike, was born shortly after their arrival.

The following 63 years her life was filled with teaching at Ferndale Elementary and Pacific Union Elementary in Arcata. After her retirement she went on to work at Humboldt State for several years using her gift as a teacher to mentor many students who were working on their teaching credentials. Throughout the years she also participated in the Friends of the Library, the annual Humboldt County Authors' Festival, the P.E.O. Sisterhood, DAR and was always active in church.

Lee loved spending time with her quilting group, sewing pillowcases and quilts for her children and grandchildren, reading (especially cat themed mystery books), playing the piano, and her twice weekly visits with "muscle man" Jazz.

Lee is survived by her husband of 71 years, Duke, her children Debbie and Mike, grandchildren Adrienne, Kara and J.T., great-grandchildren Deandra, Daniel, Alyssa, and Ashley and great-great grandmother to JJ along with Osiris who is due in just a couple of weeks!

She will be dearly missed by her family and the many friends she made throughout her life. She was a light to all who knew her. We will miss her kindness, compassion and God's love that she exhibited to all she came in contact with.

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