BOMBER MEMORIAL

LEE EDGAR SCHOOLEY ~ Class of 1969
September 26, 1951 - August 15, 2026



Lee Edgar Schooley, 74, of Kennewick, Washington, passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 15, 2026, surrounded in spirit by the love of family and friends who will miss him dearly.

Lee was born on September 26, 1951, in Richland, Washington, the beloved first child of Edgar and Marilyn Schooley. A lifelong Tri-Cities resident, he grew up attending Marcus Whitman Elementary School and Carmichael Junior High School before graduating with Richland's Columbia High School Class of 1969. He went on to earn a B.A. in Business Psychology from Central Washington State College in 1973 and built a career with Rockwell Hanford as a nuclear chemical utility operator.

Lee retired as a nuclear operator in 2011 at age 60 and embraced retirement with gratitude, often speaking fondly of life "in this great country of ours." He enjoyed following the stock market, trading, and collecting coins. Above all, Lee wished the best for others and cherished the privilege of living in the Tri-Cities, a place filled with many happy memories and meaningful moments throughout his life.

The loss of his father, Edgar Schooley, on April 22, 2014, and his mother, Marilyn Ann Schooley, on February 4, 2021, were deeply painful for Lee.

He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Lynn ('73) and Randy Christopher of Salem, Oregon; his brother and sister-in-law, Bruce ('71) and Valerie Schooley of Alamo, California; and his three nephews: Daniel Broweleit, David Broweleit, and Robert Christopher.

His family grieves his passing with love and honors the honest, upright life he lived.

Lee is buried at Sunset Gardens, just a block from his childhood home on Swift Boulevard, near the place where so many of his memories began.

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Published by the Tri-City Herald from August 28 to August 30, 2026.

Bomber Memorial put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).