EUREKA CLEO LEE

1931 –2021

Eureka (Reka) Cleo Lee (nee Mumpower) of Essex, Maryland, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and sister, was taken home to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus on 15 March 2021. Reka passed at home surrounded by her family.

Reka was born in October of 1931 in Appalachia, Virginia to Charles Baker Mumpower and Agnes Mamie Mumpower (nee Hillman). She was the third of their seven children and the only daughter, affectionately known as “Sis.”
Reka attended Appalachia High School, graduating in June of 1950. She then pursued a Nursing degree at the University of Virginia Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in September 1953. After graduation, she returned to Appalachia and worked at Norton Community Hospital briefly before deciding to join the United States Navy. Reka served as both a ward nurse and head nurse in the US Navy from 6 May 1954 to 30 June 1960. She was a Korean War veteran and attained the rank of Lieutenant. While stationed in Quonset, Rhode Island LT Eureka C. Lee met her future husband LT Donald S. Lee. Reka and Don were married on 6 August 1960 and in 2020 celebrated 60 years together.

Though Reka left the Navy to get married, Don’s career took them to a number of states and even England before settling in Maryland in 1971. Reka’s focus after marriage became the care of her husband and her growing family. She was a devoted mother to her four children and a second mom to many neighborhood children. As her children began to grow up, she began providing day care for some of the younger children in the neighborhood and eventually for her own grandchildren. Several of Don and Reka’s children and grandchildren have continued the family’s history of serving their country: Mark Lee (US Navy), Gary McCluskey (Army and US Navy), Justin Freeman (USMC), Aaron McCluskey (US Navy), and Alex Pincus (USMC).

Reka was known to her family and her friends for her kind heart, gentle spirit and selfless love for other people. Her love of the Lord Jesus and her strong faith were evident in the way she lived her life. Reka loved gardening and spent much time caring for her flowers and growing fresh vegetables. For many years Reka was an active member of the Back River Methodist Church of Essex, and a regular bible study and home group participant.

Reka is preceded in death by her parents Charles Baker Mumpower and Agnes Hillman Mumpower, brothers Thevenow Mumpower and Waymon Mumpower, and sister-in-law Floraine (Boots) Church Mumpower.

Reka is survived by her husband Donald S. Lee, daughter Carol I. Freeman and husband John Freeman (Bel Air, MD), son Mark R. Lee and wife Tammy Lee (TX), daughter Diane C. McCluskey and husband Gary McCluskey (CA), daughter Tanya J. Lee (Essex, MD); grandchildren: Jason S. Freeman (Bel Air, MD), Candace I. Pincus (Freeman) and husband Alex Pincus (CA), Justin S. Freeman (Bel Air, MD), Aaron P. McCluskey (CA), Ethan K. McCluskey (CA); brothers: Eldon (Ed) Mumpower and wife Dorothy, Harry Mumpower and wife Carolyn, Sherman (Gale) Mumpower and wife Peggy, Charles Mumpower and wife Siegelinda (Linda); and many nieces and nephews.

In keeping with Reka’s passion for helping others and fostering education, her remains were donated to the John Hopkins Memory and Alzheimer’s disease research program. The family is planning to hold a celebration of Eureka’s life at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider making a donation to the Christian Appalachian Project, a charity that she supported and whose work was close to her heart: Christian Appalachian Project, P.O. Box 55911, Lexington, KY 40555-5911.