Donald F. Lee, 86 of Lake City, passed away on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at his home in Lake City.  He was born in Hamilton County, Florida, the second oldest of four children, to the late I.J. Lee and Bertie Thomas Lee.  Mr. Lee was raised in White Springs and graduated from White Springs High School class of 1956.  He served for 13 years with the Florida National Guard, was of the Methodist Faith and lived most of his life in Lake City.  Mr. Lee started his career as a surveyor in December of 1956 with the Florida Department of Transportation.  He then worked for several years with Bennett Wattles and also with his brother, Lonnie Lee.  Mr. Lee became a Registered Surveyor in 1982 and founded Donald F. Lee and Associates in 1984 and operated his business until 2019.  Mr. Lee served as the county surveyor for both Columbia and Hamilton Counties from 1991 to 2019. He was well respected throughout the State of Florida in the Surveying Industry with his 60 years of experience surveying in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and also on the Canadian and United States border.  Mr. Lee loved being outdoors working on his farm and tending to his cows. He loved listening to country and gospel music, traveling and spending time with his family on their many family vacations.  Mr. Lee was preceded in death by his parents; one brother and sister-in-law, Lonnie and Gayle Lee; one sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Odis Wetherington; and one brother-in-law, David Shaw.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Laverne Wetherington Lee, Lake City; three children, Donna C. Lee, Sherry Williams (Jimmy) and Don Lee (Sherri) all of Lake City; one sister, LaVerna Shaw, Bell; six grandchildren, Kristi Feagle (Mark), Lake City, Dustin Free (Kim), Estero, Jamie Crews (Ronnie), Lake City, Jordan Phillips (Brad), Ocoee, Lauren Ganskop (Mark), Lake City and Lindsay Kelley (Ryan), Yulee; twelve great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services for Mr. Lee will be conducted on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 11:00 AM in the Gateway-Forest Lawn Memorial Chapel.  Interment will follow at Prospect Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in White Springs.  A time of visitation with the family will be Monday evening, October 2, 2023, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the funeral home.