On February 21, 2024. Elaine Tyler Lee departed the confines of her earthly body to reside among the angels and Christ our Lord. She was born on December 29, 1936, to Fleda McDaniel Tyler and James Harvey Tyler. During her youth, she grew up in the Portsmouth, Va. area while her father worked in Newport News. She would often recall the “blackouts” that occurred during World War II. After the war, she and her parents moved back to Salem, Va. where she remained a lifelong resident and community member. Elaine attended and graduated from the School of Nursing at Roanoke Memorial Hospital (RMH) in 1957. She worked at RMH in the operating room for her entire career until her retirement in 1999. As such, her legacy lives on through the many nurses and residents she mentored over the years. Elaine truly enjoyed her second family in the operating room and had many lifelong friendships with her fellow co-workers. While having a career, she also had her own family. She had two sons, Mark Allen Lee and David Tyler Lee. She devoted her life to caring for her sons and was a strong and independent role model. She also assured that both her sons graduated from college and took great pride in their accomplishments. As her sons married and had families of their own, Elaine found great joy in her extended family. Mark married Rhonda Haga Lee and they had two sons, Johnathan James Lee and Scott Tyler Lee. Johnathan (Jessie) has two sons, Dylan Scott Lee and Nathan Cristopher Lee. Ty married Gail Hottel Lee and had two daughters, Olivia Lee Wolfe (Jonathon) and Angela Danielle Lee (Austin). Elaine was a lifelong member of Fort Lewis Baptist Church and is believed to be the longest living member. While worshiping there, she also served as a Sunday school teacher, deacon, and was in the choir. She enjoyed readying the Bible, teaching, and serving in her church. Her faith was a very important part of her earthly life. Elaine, who was an only child, cared for both of her aged parents. When caring for her mother she had to use her nursing skills, but dutifully and lovingly cared for both of her parents as they also transitioned from Earth to Heaven. Elaine was a very devoted daughter, mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother. She was also a compassionate nurse and a loyal friend, as well as a believer Jesus Christ our Lord and Father. May she rest in eternal peace. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to Fort Lewis Baptist Church at 4215 W. Main Street, Salem, Va. 24153; Or, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Charlotte Chapter, 4600 Park Road, Suite 100, Charlotte, N.C. 28209. Services will be held Monday, February 26, 2024, at John M. Oakey and Son Chapel, 305 Roanoke Boulevard, Salem Va. The visitation will be from 1 o’clock to 2 o’clock in the afternoon. A funeral will follow directly after the visitation at 2 o’clock. Interment will follow at Cedar Lawn Memorial Park, 5070 Cove Road, Roanoke, Va. Online condolences may be expressed to the Lee family by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.
