Lee LaRue, 69, of Kamiah, Idaho, peacefully passed away on February 25, 2021, surrounded by loved ones, after a difficult battle with cancer.
Lee was born on June 4, 1951, to Lester and Lois LaRue in Kansas City, Kan. In 1969, Lee graduated from Hogan High School in Vallejo, Calif. He was a gifted athlete and was offered scholarships to play Division 1 college football, but declined that opportunity and after graduating high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps (USMC). Lee became a Corporal and completed two tours in Vietnam. Lee was proud of his military service and received many decorations: Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Rifle Sharpshooter Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and National Defence Service Medal.
After serving in the Marine Corps, Lee returned home to California and met Terryl Kristine Lind in Costa Mesa. The two began dating and were married in 1975. Lee and Terry had their first child, Scott Lester LaRue in 1977 and Clark Richard LaRue in 1978. During a family vacation to Washington state, Lee proclaimed that in a year their family would reside in Western Washington. That year, the family of four moved from California to Washington and resided in Concrete, Wash. In 1980, Andrew James LaRue was born. In 1985, Lee began his career working for the United States National Park Service. Lee worked on water systems at Mount Rainier National Park and retired in 2013 as the Utilities Supervisor.
Lee was passionate about the outdoors and enjoyed his years of service at national parks. While working and serving in his community of Ashford, Wash., Lee was a Lions Club member and mentored young men. Lee was the head coach for his sons' Babe Ruth Baseball team for several years.
Lee was a passionate outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing in Idaho and Washington and shared his love of the outdoors with his children, grandchildren, and friends. He was a loving family man, treated his friends as family, and in return was adored by his family and friends and will be sorely missed.
Lee was predeceased by his mother and father, son Scott (Jaclyn), brother Lash LaRue, and sister Leslie LaRue. He is survived by his sons Clark (Michelle) and Andrew (Dacia), grandchildren Lauren, Emily, Archer, Kadence, Caroline, Lily, Madelyn, Jackson, and Mirabelle. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a cancer research organization.