"Dene" Iris Uldene Lee

Funeral Services for Iris Uldene “Dene” Rodgers Lee, age 86, of Cookeville, will be Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the Dodson Branch Free Will Baptist Church. The family will receive friends Friday, March 1, 2013 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Dyer Funeral Home and again on Saturday at Dodson Branch Free Will Baptist Church from noon until time of the service. Burial will follow in the Dodson Branch Cemetery. Dene was born July 24, 1926 in Baxter TN to the late Haywood Tildon Rodgers and Maggie McBroom Rodgers. Mrs. Lee was a loving mother and grandmother who loved gardening, birds, poetry, and her flowers. She and her husband Arvil were in the ministry for near sixty eight years serving several Free Will Baptist Churches. She was a hard worker who taught Sunday School, enjoyed singing, and had a great sense of humor. Mrs. Lee was always interested in painting and at the age of 70 she took classes and became an accomplished artist. Dene will be remembered most for her great cooking, especially her biscuits. Mrs. Lee is survived by her husband, Rev. Arvil N. Lee, six children: Steve (Nancy) Lee of Murfreesboro, Joan (Jerry) Binkley of Ashland City, Bobby (Judy) Lee of Cookeville, Susan Anderson of McMinnville, Ramona (Jeff) Gaston of Murfreesboro and Charmain (James) Vissering of Marquette Hgts. IL. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Lisa Lee, Jason Anderson, Jeff (Melissa) Lee, Jeremy (Lisa) Binkley, Brian (Amanda) Lee, Tyler Anderson, Mark (Amber) Lee, Michael Vissering, Brandon (Hilary) Vissering, Graham Binkley, and Amanda (Wesley) Washburn; as well as three step grandchildren: Aaron Binkley, Christina Gaston and Daniel Gaston. Her great-grandchildren include Nicholas, Matthew and Jonathon Anderson, Kailyn, Karson and Allynn Lee, and Elizabeth and Emma Vissering and one step great-grandchild, Alex James. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Lee was preceded in death by two brothers: Malcolm and Arrington Rodgers; three sisters: Chloe Mahan, Gilberta Presley and Alene Fields. She was also preceded by one grandchild, Amy Beth Lee. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Brother Clayton Lee and Brother Ronnie Dunn will be officiating the services.