Corine Margaret Clary Lee

Corine Margaret Clary Lee of Gonzales, LA, formerly from Lake Charles, passed away at the age of 93 at Magnolia Assisted Living.

Corine was born on September 3, 1928 to Lee and Regina Clary in Opelousas, LA.  She graduated from Opelousas High School and earned a degree in education at SLI in Lafayette.  While there, she met her future husband, Arthur E. Lee, Jr., and they married July 23, 1949.

They made their home in Lake Charles.  She retired in 1987 after 20 years of teaching in several Calcasieu Parish Schools.  After retirement, Granny and PawPaw moved to Toledo Bend where they enjoyed seven years of entertaining family and friends on the lake.  They relocated back to Lake Charles in 1996 and lived there until Arthur’s death in 2017.  At that time, Corine moved to Gonzales to be closer to family.

Corine was a faithful member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, where she was a eucharistic minister and volunteered her time preparing lunches and visiting with the McNeese students.  She also volunteered at the Christian Bookstore and Abraham’s Tent.  She enjoyed playing bridge, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.  Her last years were spent in assisted living, but she loved visiting family outside, “going rambling,” and eating good food.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband of 67 years Arthur;  two sisters, Marie “Bal” Robin and Lois “Putchie” York, and many beloved dogs.

She is survived by her three daughters, Linda Sonnonstine (Tommy) of Keller, TX, Liz Austin (Robbie) of Prairieville, LA, and Lezlie Boyd (Larry) of Tyler, TX; eight grandchildren, Laurie Sonnonstine Briggs (Mark), Kevin Sonnonstine (Shelley), Scott Austin (Holly), Lisa Austin Seymour (Tony), Leigh Ann Austin Charles (Anthony), Bryan Boyd (Kelly), Hunter Boyd, Tucker Boyd (Elyse); and ten great grandchildren, Marlee Briggs, Hudson Briggs, Clark Sonnonstine, Addison Austin, Bayleigh Austin, Camden Austin, Aiden Seymour, Austin Seymour, Ellie Charles, Emma Charles.

Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 10, 2022 in the Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles Chapel.  Msgr. Jace Eskind will preside.  Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.  Visitation will be at the funeral home on Saturday from 1:00 PM until the start of the service at 2:00 PM.

All who knew and loved her will forever remember her motto, “Getting old ain’t for sissies.”   Her never-ending persistence and strength for 93 years, proved she was never a sissy.

Thank you to Magnolia Assisted Living and Hospice Specialists of Louisiana for their care and compassion.  Memorial donations may be made to The American Cancer Society.