Obituary of Judy Lee

Judy Arnold Lee, affectionately known as “Ju Ju,” passed away peacefully at her home in Lexington, Kentucky, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, following a brave and determined battle with cancer. She was 75 years old. Born on January 7, 1951, in Frankfort, Kentucky, Judy was the beloved daughter of George Quarles Arnold Jr. and Ailleen Wheeler Arnold, who preceded her in death. Frankfort remained her true “home” even after she followed her heart to Lexington to be closer to her most prized possessions – her grandchildren. Judy’s life left a mark on many. Professionally, she impacted many lives for the better during her many years as an educator in the Franklin County Public School system. On a personal level, she was a generous hostess, where she opened her home to her extended family and friends over the years for holidays and other memorable events. And most notably she poured the best of herself into being a wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and overall present family member. Judy came from humble beginnings. Raised alongside her siblings Jenny May (William), Amy Ballard (David), and Chris Arnold (Candi), they developed close bonds. Growing up, the girls made their own clothes together, a skill that Judy continued to build upon as she loved to sew, needlepoint and crochet. Judy’s childhood on the farm was filled with fond memories of riding tractors with her dad, which eventually turned into a beloved hobby. She valued her sibling relationships, often telling memories with pride and humor. Even when being the stubborn oldest, as Judy was, she displayed unwavering loyalty. During her time at Franklin County High School, Judy was no wallflower. The yearbooks are the evidence. There is hardly a page that doesn’t highlight one of her accomplishments inside and outside the classroom. This includes her involvement in various clubs and cheerleading. After high school, Judy attended Western Kentucky University, Kentucky State University and Georgetown College and earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Education. It was during these years that she would meet and marry the love of her life John Bruce Lee. Equally husband and wife and partners in life, they both aspired to invest in the education and economic development of the city that they loved. Proud members of the “Cooks from Hell”, Bruce and Judy along with dear friends never missed an opportunity to support the state tournament events happening around Frankfort specifically at the Civic Center. They would feed everyone involved in these events including the set-up crew, clean-up crew, volunteers, and participants. While this work was behind the scenes and they would never expect or accept credit for this enormous undertaking,their work alongside the other self-named group demonstrates their commitment to serving their community. In respect to her kitchen skills Judy would say, “Bruce can COOK, but I can feed you.” However she will be fondly remembered for her delicious pecan pies she would lovingly bake and give to friends and family as Christmas gifts, with a remarkable 75 pies made in one season. While Bruce would have a diverse and successful career of his own, Judy invested most of her career teaching Health and Physical Education at Western Hills High School. Among other things, she will be remembered for founding the Medical Studies Program. Understanding the needs of the healthcare system, Judy built a program designed for students that chose to learn and practice the skills needed to succeed in this field. She facilitated a partnership with the local hospital so that the students would have a place to apply practical applications of their skills. Ahead of her time in this area of what is now a common practice within select schools and a select group of students, the Medical Studies Program at Western Hills still exists today. Just as important to Judy as her responsibilities inside the classroom were her responsibilities assigned outside. Many will fondly remember Judy standing tall while directing dismissal traffic—perfect posture, sharp arm movements, (a reflection of her cheerleading days), and her unmistakable command of the task. It was not lost on her that the safety of the students was in her hands. Rumor has it that Judy threw herself on the hood of a car when she thought an accident was on the horizon! It goes without saying, she took her responsibility to educate students and protect their safety seriously. On that same note, Judy Lee was no pushover. She was no nonsense in life and in the classroom. She met students where they were and challenged them, sometimes using tough love, to help them reach their full potential. Former students have said that while they may not have appreciated it at the time, Mrs. Lee went on to be one of their biggest fans in life. Someone they looked forward to seeing around Frankfort and talking about how their lives had turned out and often even thanking her for her impact. Always curious about others, nothing made Judy happier than hearing about the successes of her former students. Long after her retirement in 2001, Judy would tell anyone that would listen, what a challenging and rewarding job it is to be a teacher. She showed great admiration for the profession and was always teachers’ and administrators’ biggest advocate. While her career was meaningful, the life she built with Bruce and her role as a wife and eventually a mother to their two children, John Lockhart and Nancy Caroline Lee, was paramount. Her home was welcoming, her marriage rooted in partnership, love, and mutual respect, and her mothering is nothing short of reflective of all the above. Watching her children grow up, shepherding and offering firm guidance when appropriate while then allowing independence when needed, whether she agreed or not, all contributed to outcome she was so proud to see. She and Bruce raised good human beings in John and Nancy. Judy never missed an opportunity to brag on their uniqueness’s, often attributing them to either the “Arnold side” or the “Lee side”, and most importantly appreciating their differences as only a mother can. Judy experienced many health struggles starting mid-life and plagued her until the time of her passing. Those coupled with the abrupt passing of Bruce, would have been reason for some to give up. However, she had her three grandchildren to live for. Nothing brought her greater joy than her grandchildren. She delighted in their interests, celebrated their successes, and supported them wholeheartedly. Being “Ju Ju” to Cody Lockhart, Victoria Lee, and Drake Bruce Gatewood was among her greatest honors. The name “Ju Ju”, first given to her by her baby brother Chris and lovingly revived by her grandchildren Cody, Victoria, and Drake, captured the warmth, playfulness, and deep and quiet connection she shared with them. They will never forget their time spent with their “Ju Ju.” Throughout her life Judy had opportunities to use her talents, which coincidentally were her hobbies for the betterment of others. Judy had a keen eye for style and design, finding joy in fashion, interior decorating, shopping and gardening. All of which contributed to her ability to provide the kind of welcoming home she did. Additionally, once the hosting season of life was over, she continued to use her talents to help others. Whether it was shopping for the perfect item to serve the perfect purpose for another’s need, picking the perfect paint color to add to the ambiance of the home of a loved one or always ensuring she and others had that perfect outfit for that special occasion, she truly believed that her time, talents and spiritual gifts were to be used to benefit the ones she loved the most. Judy loved traveling and was grateful for one last trip to Folly Beach, South Carolina with her family and friends over Christmas. Sharing one of her favorite places with her favorite people brought her immense joy! Judy Lee lived boldly, loved deeply, and remained unwaveringly herself, living life on her terms until the end. She will be missed terribly, but rests in peace. Judy will be remembered for her courage, devotion to her family and the inspiration to always be unapologetically and authentically yourself. Judy is survived by Son: John Lockhart Lee of Frankfort, Kentucky, Daughter: Nancy Lee Gatewood (Clay) of Lexington, Kentucky, Grandsons: Cody Lockhart, and Drake Bruce Gatewood and her one and only granddaughter— Victoria Lee Gatewood, all of Lexington. Other survivors include her sisters Jenny May (William) and Amy Ballard (David), as well as a brother Chris Arnold (Candi) all of Frankfort, KY. In addition to her husband of 43 years John “Bruce” Lee, Judy was preceded in death by her parents Quarles and Ailleen Arnold. Additional dear survivors include her brothers and sistersinlaw: David Lee (Anne), Allen Lee (Teresa), Carrol Lee (Donna), and Barry Lee (Joy). Judy would always take the time to attend the big and small life events of her surviving nieces and nephews and other extended family. These include nephews Grayson Arnold, Zach Arnold (Cali), Jeremy Dooley, Grady Lee, Keith Lee (Jill), Matthew Lee (Jordan), Michael Lee, Ryan Lee (Gabriella), Travis Lee, Kelly May (Brittany), and William May III. Nieces Amy Casey (Ian), Whitney Cunningham, Melissa Duff (Robert), Melanie Fenton (Ryan), Carrie Lee Hudak (Charlie), Beth Lee (Chris), and Jena Solak (Mark). She is also survived by a host of greatnieces, greatnephews, extended family members, and dear friends, all of whom were near and dear to her heart. Services Services will be held at Rogers Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 25th at 2:00 pm. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 4:00 to 7:00 pm Tuesday and 1:00 to 2:00 pm Wednesday. Burial will take place at Frankfort Cemetery. The service will be officiated by Tony Hyatt. Pallbearers will be Grayson Arnold, Zach Arnold, Jeremy Dooley, Grady Lee, Keith Lee, Matthew Lee, Michael Lee, Ryan Lee, Travis Lee, Kelly May, and William May III. Judy’s life well lived is reflected in the words of Maya Angelou who said, “You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anyone.”