John R. "Buddy" Lee, Jr. , age 86 of Smyrna, TN, passed away Friday December 8, 2017. A native of Rutherford County, he was the son of the late John R. Lee, Sr. and Estelle Burgess Lee. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Cynthia Evelyn Lee, and a sister, Catherine Lee Lawrence.

Mr. Lee is survived by his wife of 61 years, Naomi Thompson Lee; daughter, Mary Lee Vanderkooi and her husband Loren Lee Vanderkooi, all of Smyrna, TN; and sister Mildred Lee Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN.

Visitation will be Sunday from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Woodfin Chapel, Smyrna. Funeral Service will be 2:30 PM Monday at Woodfin Chapel, Smyrna with Rev. Barry Culbertson and Rev. Rob Dunbar officiating. Burial will follow in Mapleview Cemetery with Richard Gentry, Roger Mack, Robert Kelly Lee, Bill Lee, Charles Batey, Bobby Hayes, and Billy Burgess serving as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Pete Strickler, Lonnie Doremus, and the Men of Kedron United Methodist Church.

Mr. Lee was a member of Kedron United Methodist Church, and retired in 1995 from Cummings Signs after 25 years of service.

Memorials may be made to Kedron United Methodist Church in memory of Mr. Lee.

An online guestbook for the Lee family is available at www.woodfinchapel.com .

Woodfin Chapel, Smyrna. 615-459-3254.