Lee Ella Ray Rast, of Chattanooga, died October 24, 2006 at age 98.
Lee lived a life filled with purpose that was an inspiration to the many people she touched. She was a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who had a strong commitment to her faith (Church of Christ, Scientist) and the people in her community through extensive church, volunteer and community work.
She was a pioneering business woman for more than 80 years. Her continual optimism and faith in people and her community gave many people hope, and her continual efforts to improve her community touched and affected the lives of countless people.
She was the daughter of the late James Manning Ray and Addie Espy. She was born in Pike, Al. She had five brothers (Rufus, Grady, J.C., Steven Bird, and Merwyn) and five sisters (Leona, Mary, Nolie, Ruby and Jane). She is survived by S. B. and Merwyn who live in Montgomery.
Lee was married to James O. Rast in August of 1927. Her husband died in 1982. They had one child, Ray Rankin Rast, who died in November of 2003.
She has three grandchildren, Jim Rast, Sandra Lilly, and Richard Rast, and eight great-grandchildren, Earen, Eve, Brittany, Jessica, Ryan, Katherine, Richard and Ben.
Lee was born in rural Alabama and went to Troy Teachers College and Massey Business College. She became a business woman at age 18 and had a steadily advancing career in banking and real estate. As a young woman she represented the mortgage company where she was employed at meetings on Wall Street. She continued working throughout her life, spending the last 20 years of her working career operating a business of her own, The Secretarial Shop.
She was a volunteer extraordinaire, and served on many boards especially in her retirement years. Her involvements included, but were not limited to, the Civil Air Patrol where she achieved the rank of full-colonel, Altrusa Club in which she was the Governor for the southern region, the Freedoms Foundation, Eastern Star, Senior Neighbors, and headed the Teddy Bear Express for the Chattanooga History Museum.
She volunteered for the library and was serving as a member of the nutritional council for the Mayor’s campaign for better nutrition at the time of her death. When she was 90 she was awarded the Pilot Club’s Community Service Award in Chattanooga. The picture, taken at that occasion, was on the cover of a book that she authored: Celebrating Ninety Years of Living, an Autobiography.
Mrs. Rast was an active member of the First Church of Christ Scientist, Chattanooga, having served as Chair of the By-laws Committee, member of the Board, Chair of the Board, Church Clerk, and President of the Church for two years.
A memorial service in her honor will be held November 18 at 2 p.m., at the Manor House, 1148 Mountain Creek Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405.
A scholarship fund is being established in Lee Rast’s name at UTC to provide financial opportunities for young women pursuing business careers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the “Lee Rast Scholarship Fund’ c/o Richard Rast, 1611 Castle Pointe Drive, Castle Rock, CO 80104.
Arrangements are by Lane Funeral Home, Coulter Chapel. Visit www.lane-coulterchapel.com to sign the guestbook or send condolences.