Edyth N. Lee

Edyth N. Lee, age 90, of Las Cruces, NM, and Terre Haute, IN, died Wednesday, March 6, 2013. "Nicky," as she was fondly known, was born Aug. 5, 1922, in Santa Rita, NM, as a member of the generation "born in space." Her parents, Luke and Minniebell Dickinson Nichols, raised her in Hurley, close to Silver City, where her mother's family were early New Mexico pioneers and lawmen. Nicky graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in music education as a member of Chi Omega sorority. At UNM, she met and fell in love with fellow student, David Lee. They were married in Terre Haute, IN, in 1944, just before David was shipped to Europe as an Army officer during World War II. In Indiana, David and Nicky raised four children, Niki (Mott) and Margaret (Grant), now of Las Cruces; John, now of Brazil, IN, and Ruth (Bedi), now of San Juan Capistrano, CA. Nicky remained active in the music, theatre and church communities at the local, state and national levels and belonged to PEO, Indiana Music Teachers' Assoc., SAI, the Country Clubs of Terre Haute and was active as a Rotary Ann. She earned a master's degree in music education from Indiana State University and continued to teach piano and music privately and through the University. When she moved to Las Cruces to live with her daughter, Margaret, and to be close to Niki and her husband, Jim, she continued to be active with PEO, Rotary, community theatre and the Las Cruces Symphony. Besides her children, Nicky is survived by grandchildren Cameron and Jameson Mott, David and Joe Lee, Jim Wells, and Devin and Brittany Bedi, as well as numerous great-grandchildren and also by Niki Mott (husband Jim), and Margaret Grant, all of Las Cruces; John (wife Dawn) of Brazil, IN, and Ruth Bedi (husband, Tony,) of San Juan Capistrano, CA. A memorial service to celebrate Nicky's life will be held at 2:00 Saturday, March 9, 2013, at Morningstar United Methodist Church, 2941 Morningstar Dr., Las Cruces, NM, with Pastor Travis Bennett officiating. The PEO International and a violinist, Jessie Libicer will also have a ceremony. Her remains will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, David, in Silver City, NM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Nicky's name to PEO Chapter AS, c/o Denise Anderson, 4313 Summit Lane, Las Cruces, NM 88011; the Las Cruces Symphony Assoc., P.O. Box 1622, Las Cruces 88004, or a local community theatre. The family wishes to thank the Arbors of Del Rey and Mesilla Valley Hospice for their warm and loving care for Nicky. PDF Printable Version