February 14, 2012  

LOWVILLE, N.Y.  —  Rita E. Lee, 91, of the Tillman Road, died Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the Lewis County Residential Health Care Facility. 

Born Oct. 12, 1920, in Lowville, a daughter of Reuben J. and Anna Duffer Woolschlager, she graduated in 1938 from Lowville Academy.  

She married Eugene Fogarty on Jan. 6, 1945, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Lowville.  

They resided in Lowville where Mr. Fogarty operated and owned the Lowville Laundry & Drycleaners until his death in 1972.   

On Nov. 17, 1973, she was married to Miller S. Lee in Turin Methodist Church. Mr. Lee retired as a loan officer at St. Lawrence National Bank in Lowville and died Aug. 3, 1986. 

Mrs. Lee served as secretary to the Commissioner of Social Services, Beryl W. Freeman and later to Commissioner Dorrance Moshier, retiring in 1983, after almost twenty years of service to Lewis County. 

She was a life member and past president of the Lowville Memorial American Legion Auxiliary Unit 162; member and past president of the Lewis County American Legion Auxiliary; charter member and past president of the Lewis County Chapter of Professional Secretaries, Int.; member of Constable Hall Association; Lewis County ARC; Lewis County Hospital Auxiliary; Lewis County Historical Society; AARP; the New York State Retirement System; past director and recording secretary of the Lewis County Agricultural Society; organist at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Lowville and member of the Republican National Committee and Republican Presidential Task Force. 

Surviving are a son, Richard P. Fogarty, Norwood; three grandchildren, Heather, Lisa and Joseph; four great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, June Woolschlager, with whom she made her home and nieces and nephews. 

A brother, Ambrose (Bud) Woolschlager, a sister, Barbara, and a daughter-in-law, Debbie, all died before her. 

Funeral services will be held 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at Sundquist Funeral Home with Rev. Ed Murphy, priest in charge of Trinity and Grace Episcopal Churches. Spring burial will be in the Turin Cemetery.   

Family and friends may call 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Condolences may be made on the online guest book at www.sundquistfh.com.

Information provided by Sundquist Funeral Home of Lowville and Newzjunky, Watertown, N.Y.