Esther Gatica
Alicia S. Lee, a beloved mother, grandmother, and community member, passed away peacefully on August 31, 2024.
Alicia was born in Brushy Creek, Oklahoma, commonly known as Brushy Lake. She entered the world on February 10, 1944, and was welcomed by her parents, Charlie and Lucy Ann Ray, Jr.
With this series of educational enhancements playing as background music in her early life it was as if Alicia caught the rhythm of education’s importance to her community and dedicated herself to teaching. Her commitment to education was unwavering. And as a result, her life was testimony to the sentiment, “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove… but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child. She dedicated her life to challenging and nurturing the minds of young people.
After completing her high school education in Los Angeles, Alicia proudly attended the University of California, Riverside. She graduated with three majors, all receiving the remarkable distinction of Magna Cum Laude.
Alicia’s passion for learning led her to continue pursuing higher education. She would go on to earn a Master’s Degree in Education from California State University, San Bernardino.
Outside of the classroom, Alicia was committed to the same mission of improving and expanding the minds of others through all her charitable work. Alongside being a teacher and prominent community member, her strongest commitment and most meaningful relationship was her 51 year marriage to Howard Gregory Lee before his passing on December 6, 2022. They met while attending the University of California Riverside.
Alicia and Howard both shared a passion for education.
Alicia is survived by her children: son Gregory Lee and daughter Princess Lee-Blunt, daughter-in-law Gina Villasenor-Lee, son-in-law Al Blunt, a number of grandchildren and extended family and friends. Her commitment to education and generous love for all that knew her, including her students, will never be forgotten.