Onzle Duane Lee

Onzle Duane Lee, age 82.

Duane was born on May 23, 1943 to Onzle August Lee and Nora Frances (Babe) Borden, and passed away on July 12, 2025 at his home in Portales, New Mexico.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel at 2:00pm, with C.J. Garrett and Rick Welcher officiating. Burial will follow at the Floyd Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Eric Hall, Shannon Lee, Shane Lee, Wayne Buchanan, Andy Nials and Don Bennett. Honorary Pallbearer will be the Men’s Sunday School Class from Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Duane graduated from Floyd High School in 1961. He married Dorotha Faye (Dottie) Tivis on April 12, 1963 and made their home west of Floyd, where they farmed and raised a family until 1980. 

Duane moved his family to Portales, in 1980, and drove a propane truck for Bob Strong Oil Company.  He later worked for Roosevelt County Water Coop until he started working, in 1992, for Dale Miller.  Duane worked for Dale Miller for 20 years, until his retirement in 2012. 

Duane liked to ride horses and go fishing with friends.  For many years, Duane and Dottie enjoyed square dancing and traveling in their camper with their grandkids and Good Sam’s RV Club.  He never missed a chance to make a friend or help someone out.  He was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Duane is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dottie, of the home; three sons, Alan Lee of Portales, Doug Lee and wife Sharon, of Elida, and Heath Lee and wife Lisa Lee of Fort Sumner. He is also survived by 5 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Other surviving family include siblings, brother Eddie Lee and wife Janice, of Floyd, and sister Betty Wiggs and husband Wilby, of Portales.

Duane is preceded in death by his parents, Onzle & Nora (Babe) Lee, a brother, Tommy Dan Lee and a son, Lester Steven Lee.

We would like to give a special thank you to Interim Hospice Care for their great care of Duane. And a very special thanks to Merisa Carrera and Alex Delgado.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Floyd Cemetery Fund at P.O. Box 315, Floyd, NM 88118.

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