Lee Edward Collet's Obituary
Lee Edward Collet, noted sculptor and art educator, died Monday, December 31, 2018 in Muskegon, surrounded by his loving family.
Lee was born on July 23, 1941 in Bay City, Michigan to Amos Frederick and Edith Irene (Blasdell) Collet. In 1959, Lee graduated from Midland High School in Midland, Michigan where he played violin in the orchestra. In 1963, Lee obtained a BA in Art Education at Central Michigan University where he was a member of the Sigma Theta Tau fraternity. From 1963-1966, he taught 5th and 6th grade art in the Flint Public Schools in Flint, Michigan.
On August 13, 1966, Lee married the former Darlene Jeanette Owen in the Mio Methodist Church in Mio, Michigan and they moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Lee obtained an MFA in Sculpture at the University of Michigan in 1968. That same year, he accepted a position in the Creative and Performing Arts Department at Muskegon Community College (MCC) in Muskegon, Michigan. Between 1968 and 2003, when he retired from MCC, Lee taught Sculpture, Design, Drawing and Art History, and served as Department Chair. During this time, he also taught Sculpture at Kendall School of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In addition to teaching, Lee was very prolific in his artistic endeavors, creating multiple small and large scale sculptures and wall reliefs. His work has been in numerous art exhibits and shows, including the Detroit Institute of Arts, Muskegon Museum of Art, and Frederick Meijer Gardens. A number of his sculptures and reliefs are on public display in Muskegon.
In his personal life, Lee enjoyed music, theater, history, especially Egyptian art history, and fine wine. He loved gardening, camping and staying in cabins with family, going on annual family trips to Traverse City, Michigan and Florida, and watching his sons participate in art, athletic, band, choir and theater events.
Lee leaves behind his beloved wife of 52 years, Darlene Jeanette Owen. They were blessed with two sons, Corbin Lee and his wife April, Cary Owen and his wife Kimberle and eight granddaughters, Tracy, Olivia, Jenna, Emme, Hadley, Chloee, Brynn and Savannah and one grandson, Brendan. Lee also leaves his brother, David Lee and his wife Christine and family.
A CELEBRATION OF LEE’S LIFE will be held from 3-5 PM Saturday, January 5, 2019 at The Lee Chapel, 6291 S. Harvey St., 231-798-1100. Wine, soft drinks, and appetizers from the Hearthstone will be served. Lee’s cremated remains will be interred in a custom-made Egyptian Pyramid located in the Crockery Township Cemetery in Nunica, Michigan. Lee overcame the challenges of a 40 year fight with Multiple Sclerosis. He would not let anything limit his achievements. His family requests no flowers, instead, please make a donation to the Multiple Sclerosis Society or Muskegon County Community Foundation Collet Family Art Preservation Fund. You may sign his online guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com
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