Obituary— Lee Roy Applegate

Obituary— Lee Roy Applegate

Lee Roy Applegate was born in Sierra Blanca, Texas, on July 9, 1939, to William LeRoy and Lorene Applegate.

After graduating High School as class Valedictorian, he joined the Air Force in 1957. He was stationed at Lackland Air Base in San Antonio. He was sent next to Chanute Air Base in Champlain, Illinois. There he took classes on airplane engine mechanics.

After this training, Lee was sent to Dover, Delaware. It was then that he returned to Sierra Blanca to marry Lucy. They were married on September 13, 1959, and moved to Dover, Delaware where Lee was stationed in the 1607 MATS. While there, they had their two sons, William and Steven Applegate.

In 1960, Lee was deployed with the United Nations Forces to the Belgium Congo for 6 weeks during the Belgian conflict.

After his honorable discharge in 1963, Lee and Lucy moved back home to Sierra Blanca. They lived there six months and Lee was offered a job with the Texas Highway Department as a mechanic. Then he was promoted to Road Mechanic Shop Foreman to the SuperIntendent of Equipment for District 24 in El Paso, Texas. During their time living there, their daughter Leslee was born.

Lee and Lucy retired in 1991. They began their second life building their Cattle Ranch for the next 32 years. During this time Lee restored gas engines, antique cars and trucks, and did mechanic work in his barn with his sons, grandsons and great grandson. He enjoyed ice cream with the family and traveling to spend holidays with his dear wife. He and his family worked hard during Roundups, and he always enjoyed watching the joy and happiness quilting brought to Lucy. Lee and Lucy helped establish the Eagle Mountain Veterans and Rangers Foundation. This was very important to them both.

Lucy says, in 2020 Lee said: “There’s no rain, no grass, no cows, no more business, the cows need to be sold.” Lee’s health declined during the last 3 years. On April 9, 2023, Lee departed this world peacefully at his home on the Ranch with his loving wife Lucy by his side.

Those left to cherish Lee’s memories are his wife Lucy Ann Hall Applegate, his two sons, William Lee Applegate and his wife Gloria, Steven Michael Applegate and his wife Evangelina, his daughter Leslee Ann Applegate Martin and her husband Cody, and his two sisters, Rose Lee Young and Mary Ann Applegate. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren, Hollee Jean Warren and her husband Troy, Katy LeeAnn Applegate, Michael Lee Christiansen, Michelle Ann Applegate, Shane Code Martin and his wife Marie, Steven Thomas Applegate and Julie Vasquez, Norman Biddy Martin and Michael Allen Applegate. Lee was blessed with four great grandbabies, William Clerence Warren, Wyatt Charlee Warren, Jackson Cordel Warren and Thomas Isaiah Applegate.

Lee Roy was preceded in death by his father, William LeRoy Applegate, his mother, Lorene Mary Kypfer, and his twin sister, Baby Applegate.

A graveside service was held at the Sierra Blanca Cemetery on April 15, 2023, officiated by Jack Dees. The pallbearers serving were Michael Lee Christiansen, Steven Thomas Applegate, Michael Allen Applegate, Code Martin, Troy Warren and Roger Ellison. Honorary Pallbearers were William Applegate, Steven Applegate, Wesley Snyder, Lesley Snyder, Gordy Dees, Dave Laudersman, Wayne West, Arvin West and Ken Deardeuff

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Heritage Funeral Home of Van Horn, Texas. Online condolences may be left at: www.vanhornfunerals.com.

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