Lee Stockell

Lee McNeilly Stockell, 95, of Beaufort, SC passed away peacefully on November 16, 2024. She was a devoted wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother, always placing others ahead of herself.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, November 25, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church beginning at 10:30 AM. A Reception will follow in the First Presbyterian Educational Building.

Lee was born on March 8, 1929 to Albert and Marion McNeilly. After finishing high school, she attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, graduating in the late 1940s with a degree in English. It was there that she met her husband Charles Stockell to whom she was married for 63 years until his death in 2015. After graduating, Lee had the dual roles of Army wife and high school English teacher. She moved with Charles many times as he was transferred between duty stations and enjoyed living all over the United States and abroad in Europe several times, Thailand and even a year in Russia when Charles was stationed there in the 1950s as a US military attache'. She learned to speak German well and some Russian also.

After Charles retired from the Army and their son, Duncan, was born in 1972, they settled in Beaufort, SC having been captivated by a visit to the charming and historic seaside town populated to a large degree by other retired military families. Lee quickly dove into her new life in Beaufort, becoming an active local parent and notable presence in her son's school, regular member and active participant at First Presbyterian Church of Beaufort, a Beaufort County poll worker at election times, a camillia show organizer, garden club member, storybook reader in her son's lower school, and founder and operator of “the fishing booth” at the annual Beaufort Academy Halloween carnival of which many former BA attendees have fond memories. Through her many community activities, she made many friends of all ages and walks of life. She was known for frequently entertaining guests with dinner parties at her home and was famous for many tasty meals, a skill perfected for many years. She enjoyed extensive travels with Charles and Duncan, was an excellent fisherman and was a pretty good shot when her “boys” would invite her along for a target practice outing.

Later in life, two events in particular made an already great life even better. The first was a gaining in 2005 a daughter-in-law, Kim, whom Lee adored. The second was the arrival of her grandchild, Jax, in 2017. She and Jax hit it off quickly with their time spent together resulting in many smiles and giggles from both of them and way too many presents from Grandmama. It was not uncommon during her visits to Kim and Duncan's home in Charleston to see Lee covered up in a steadily building pile of stuffed animals that Jax required her to hold as he played with her.

To her family and close friends, she was best known for her sweetness, selflessness, willingness to be of service, Christian persona, gentle humor, and positivity and encouragement of everyone around her and especially for the members of her family.

Lee is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Duncan and Kim Stockell, grandson Jax, many cousins who looked up to her as “Aunt Lee” and many friends. She will be greatly missed and always loved and remembered.