- Date Of Death: December 20, 2011
- State: Michigan
Daniel Lee A political debate was lost Tuesday. Heaven won, and “The Governor” concurred. Daniel “The Governor” Lee, 60, of Cassopolis, died Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at Lakeland Regional Hospital, St. Joseph. He was born April 3, 1951 in Slaughter, Mississippi to Earl and Helen (Gray) Lee, Sr. He married Melchora Caé?é¹a Maturan on January 22, 1996 in Kalamazoo.Daniel was a 1970 graduate of Cassopolis High School and attended Western Michigan University, majoring in Political Science.
He was a political consultant and very active in the community in the mid 70’s. He worked at the Youth Services Bureau. He started the first African American club in 1969 in the high school which is still active today, and has organized the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday events for over 20 years. He was the Recreation Director for the Cassopolis School System including running the summer programs. He organized the Cassopolis Community Association to mentor and tutor at risk children. Daniel started the Rocket Football and Youth Basketball programs. He would make sure kids got to play sports even if he took the funds out of his own pocket. He started the Ambassador Interlock in 1995. He was always active in various communities, including being the code inspector for Benton Harbor.
He is survived by his wife, Melchora Lee; two daughters, Emily (Jason) Randall, and Timmie-Ann Maturan Lee, both of Everett Washington; one son, Jomar Joven of Three Rivers; one grandson, Brendon Ryen Randall; mother, Helen Lee of Cassopolis; two sisters, Helen (Eddie) Mose and Shirley Ann, both of Cassopolis; four brothers, Charles (Lucienne) Lee, James (Nora) Lee, Sr. both of Cassopolis, Jimmy (Cindy) Lee of Grand Rapids and David (Rachel) Lee of Cassopolis; three sisters in law, Charlene Lee and Bea Lee, both of Cassopolis, Doris Bell of Louisiana and one brother in law Carl Hargrave, and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Earl Lee, Sr. on March 9, 1996; one sister, Juanita Hargrave on March 2, 2008; and three brothers, Irvin J. “Midget” Lee on August 15, 1993, Earl Lee, Jr. on October 13, 1999 and Israel Bell on October 16, 2002.
