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Carol Lynn Lee

October 9, 1957 - January 9, 2016

Carol Lynn (Rhoades) Lee
Carol Lee, 58, of Ankeny, passed away January 9, 2016 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.
A memorial service will be held 3:00 p.m., Saturday, January 23, 2016 at Ankeny Christian Church (2506 SW. 3rd Street, Ankeny
Carol was born October 9, 1957 to Naomi Elizabeth (McCartney) Rhoades and Ivan Eugene Rhoades. She graduated from Hoover High School in 1974 and was employed by Younkers, Standard Oil and most recently by the City of Ankeny as a school crossing guard. She was united in marriage with John Lee on December 20, 1975, just recently celebrating 40 years.
Carol enjoyed crafts, having a home own craft business for several years. One could say she never met a craft she didn’t like (or wouldn’t try at least once). Carol was partial to those things she created out of fabrics with buttons and quilt-like patterns. Rabbits and other critters could be found everywhere in the craft room. Whether it was a scrap of fabric from a prior project, or a new or a worn out item of clothing, they found their way to a storage spot for future use. She would create storage items from any number of common containers and had a particular affection for baskets. Carol was a Mary Kay representative for a while but her most recent stint as a school crossing guard brought her great enjoyment, having contact with all her “youngsters” who would cross the street at her post. Carol would treat them all with great care and treat them at Christmas time with candy canes on the last day of school before the holiday. Kids would come up to her when she was out in the community just to say hello.
Carol read almost anything she could, and would surprise us, expounding on any number of topics. Carol would spend hours searching internet sites reading on subjects that peaked her interest. Family history was of particular interest, finding a great many sites and resources to construct the family trees for Beth.
Carol loved animals; witness our “rescuing” or adopting four cats over several years. Her kind and gentle way, her sense of humor and her intuition in almost any situation were phenomenal and impossible to explain. We will sorely miss all of that and more.
She is survived by her husband John, and daughter Beth, both of Ankeny, a brother Frank (Susan) Rhoades also of Ankeny; Maternal Aunts Dora McCartney, Rosalie Jackson and Eloise Chord, Sister-in Law Cynthia Babcock (Kevin); 4 nieces, a great niece, 3 great nephews and many cousins.
She was preceded in death by both parents and a son Scott.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ankeny Christian Church, Animal Rescue League of Iowa, or American Diabetes Association.