John C. Lee

John C. Lee, Jr., 60, was received into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. Services will be Thursday, Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. at Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Home in Amarillo with Chaplain Danny Logan officiating.

John was born on July 17, 1965, in Amarillo, Texas to Beachie “Big John” and Beverly Lee. He graduated high school at Palo Duro High School, where he lettered in soccer, in 1984 and soon after enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served his basic training at Ft. Dix in New Jersey before being stationed at Ft. Eustis in Newport News, Va., working in Small Arms Repair. It was there he would meet Darla Brown, who was military police, at church in October 1986. The couple quickly fell in love and were married on Dec. 27, 1986. The pair welcomed their first child, Johnny, at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Va. on Aug. 14, 1987. In February 1988, John was honorably discharged from the Army. His military service didn’t stop there, however, as he joined the National Guard the following summer and remained in the service until July 1990. Just a few short months later, on Dec. 20, 1988, he and Darla would welcome their first daughter, Christina, taking her home in a Christmas stocking. In June 1990, John attended the police academy at Amarillo College and graduated with his peace officer’s certificate, although he never followed through with a career in law enforcement. He and Darla completed their family in April 1991 with the birth of his daughter, Victoria.

The couple decided to make Amarillo their home in July 1991, and he started a career with the Gilligan Group, which would later become Pat Davis Properties. John also served in the naval reserves from 1998 until Nov. 2001. After leaving Pat Davis Properties in January 2000, John would work in various maintenance positions and companies, with his final position of maintenance supervisor in June 2007. During that time, John served in the Texas State Guard from February 2002 until October 2006. While a member of the Texas State Guard, John’s unit was sent to Dallas to aid those relocated from the Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans.

In 2015, John’s faith in Christ was renewed as he started attending The Church at Quail Creek, where he served as Deacon.

John enjoyed playing video games, Star Trek, watching TV/movies and spending time with Darla. He and Darla had various pets throughout the years of raising their three kids, but none were as precious to him as his chihuahua Pepper, who passed in 2023.

Preceding John in Heaven is his parents, Big John and Beverly.

He is survived by his wife, Darla and their fur babies Sky and Summer of the home; a brother, Robert, of Olean, N.Y.; a son, John and wife Maria; Christina O’Dell and husband Ryan; Victoria Miller and husband, Brandon; and grandsons Peyton and Oliver Lee and Alexander O’Dell, all of Amarillo.

The family would like to thank Tabitha and staff of Interim Healthcare for their dedication and love of John the last three years.