Eric (Rick) Wellington Lee unexpectedly passed away Saturday, March 7, 2020 in his home in Chattanooga.  Rick was born July 13, 1953 in Asheville, NC  to the late Tai Young Lee and the late Jeannette Snelson Lee of Waynesville, NC.  He made his home in Waynesville for most of his life but moved to Chattanooga in 2001.  Rick was a practicing Architect in his firm Eric W. Lee Architect PLCC where he was licensed in 12 states.  He was an active member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church where he was an usher and served on the vestry as junior warden.  He is survived by his wife Susan Lee of Chattanooga, his son Michael Tai Lee of New Jersey, brother Michael Lee and wife Robin of Atlanta, sister-in-law Sherry Pope of Canton NC, many nieces and nephews, and his beloved dogs Buster, Scout and Bob Barker.

Rick received his Architectural degree from Georgia Tech in 1977.  After 2 years with the office of Campus Architecture at Georgia State University in Atlanta, he moved to Waynesville to join Foy and Lee Associates where he practiced with his father and Henry Foy for 12 years before acquiring the firm in 1991.  He was appointed by the Speaker of the NC State House to the Architectural Code Officials & Qualifications Board from 1992-2001 which oversees the testing, registration and conduct of the over 5,000 code officials across the state of North Carolina.  Reappointed twice by the Speaker of the House, he served as Chairman of the Education Committee for 2 years and finally as Chairman of the Architectural Board.  He was later appointed by the Lt. Governor to the board of the Western NC Regions State Health Alliance.  Rick was a past member of the Haywood County Economic Development Commission, the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority, and Chairman of the Greater Haywood County Chamber of Commerce.  He was a past member of the Waynesville Rotary Club where he served as President and was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.

In addition to his affection for tennis, golf, biking, and RVing, Rick was an avid runner who completed both the New York City and US Marine Corp Marathons and was a past Director of the Maggie Valley Moonlight Race.  Along with his commitment to his family, dogs, church and work, he was an ardent supporter of his Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or your favorite animal society/charity. As an organ donor, the Lee family would like to acknowledge that Rick gave the most precious gift anyone could give; the gift to save the lives of others.

Visit www.hamiltonfuneraloptions.com to share words of comfort to the family.