The Gator Nation lost a lifelong fan, Mrs. Betty Carr Lee, our beloved Grandma Betty, died on August 3, 2015. Grandma Betty was born in Gainesville, Florida on October 23, 1926 to Alice Elizabeth Butler and James “G” Carr. She and her five sisters and brothers were all born at their home in northeast Gainesville. She graduated from Gainesville High School and was an active member of the “GHS Has-beens”. Betty was a 50 year member of the Gainesville Women’s Club and a member of the service sorority, Beta Sigma Phi. Betty and her sister, Wanda were avid Gator fans traveling out of town and going to all the gator home games, both football and baseball. You could always find them on the first row of the 3rd base line, cheering on their “Gators”. They were both lifelong members of the Gator Dugout Club. Betty’s home near the “Swamp” has been the tailgating mecca for many years for family and friends where she welcomed one and all, and by the end of the day, knew everyone’s name, where they were from, who their parents were, and all of children’s names. Grandma Betty was lovingly known as “Betty 411” On June 3rd, 1950, Betty married and became Mrs. P. A. Lee, Jr. Betty and P. A. had three children, Art, Peggy and David. All three children followed in their father’s footstep and began careers as teachers. Art was a physical education teacher at Lincoln Middle School when he was tragically killed in a car accident in 1981. Peggy has been a teacher at Westwood Middle and GHS for 36 years and has taught many Gainesville students how to drive through Driver’s Ed class. She was also the cheerleading coach at GHS for 36 years. David was a physical education teacher for three years before joining on with the Alachua County Sheriff’s office. He is now a 26 year Lieutenant responsible for the ACSO Training Bureau. Betty was proud of her husband P.A. who was an assistant professor at the University of Florida, teaching physical education in the College of Health and Human Performance. P.A. was also an assistant coach with the University of Florida Gator Baseball team and enjoyed watching both of his sons become successful baseball players, both eventually playing for the University of Florida. P. A. and his lifelong friend, Coach Jim MaCathren assisted Coach M.B. Chafin with running the Gator Tennis camp for many years, and Betty was their bookkeeper. She prided herself in keeping up with all of P.A.’s students and enjoyed him coming home for lunch each day. Betty is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Permillas Arten “P.A.” Lee; her son, Art Lee ; and her brothers and sisters, Walter Carr, Joe Carr, Nina Bossons, Wanda LaPoint, and James G. Carr, Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Peggy Lee Johnson, (O.J.); her son David Carr Lee, (Cheryl); her daughter-in-law Shelley Waters; her grandchildren Kelly Lee, Art Waters (Tina), Allison Meaders, Amanda Meaders, Brandy Waters, Stephanie Waters, Lindsey Lee, and David Carr Lee, Jr; and her three great-grandchildren, Rose, Aubrey and Chase. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Gator Dugout Club. In celebration of her life and love for the “Gators”, the family welcomes attendees who would like to wear their favorite orange and blue attire. Funeral services will be held Friday August 7 at 11:00 AM at the First United Methodist Church, 419 NE 1st ST in Gainesville. The family will receive friends one hour prior, from 10 until 11:00. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
