John Lee, longtime owner and pharmacist at Lee's Apothecary in Brentwood, died on May 4, 2011. He was 86.

Born November 13, 1924 in Chapel Hill, Tenn. Mr. Lee grew up in Nashville and joined the U.S. Navy during WWII serving on the USS Tonawanda. He married Julia Frances Thacker in 1943 and attended Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville and the University of Tennessee Pharmacy School in Memphis, graduating in 1951.

After graduation, Mr. Lee worked for Wilson Quick Pharmacy and in September of 1954 opened his own pharmacy, Lee’s Apothecary, located on West End Ave. in Nashville. In 1964, he moved the business to Belmont Boulevard and opened another location in Brentwood in 1971. He retired from the practice in 1997.

In addition to his pharmacy practice, Mr. Lee was a member of Forest Hills Baptist Church, where he served as deacon. He also served on Board of Directors of Williamson County Bank.

Preceded in death by parents, Guy Grady Lee, Sr. and Lois Bartles Lee, and a brother Paul T. Lee, all of Nashville, Mr. Lee is survived by his wife, Julia Frances Lee; son, John Lewis Lee, Jr. (Connie) and daughter, Saundra Lee Gregory, all of Brentwood; five grandchildren, Shannon Lee Price (Dan) and Kristen Lee Merriam (Rick) all of Birmingham, Ala., John “Trey” L. Lee, III of Boston, Mass.; Laura Lee Gregory and Angela Lee Gregory both of Brentwood; one great grandchild, Luke Harper Merriam of Birmingham, AL; sister, Sara Lee Sheridan of Amsterdam, NY; and brother Guy G. Lee, Jr. of Mt. Juliet.

To honor his life, Dr. Jerry Winfield will conduct a service on Saturday May 7, 2011 at 2 pm at Forest Hills Baptist Church on Old Hickory Boulevard. The family will receive friends from 11am until time of service. Interment Woodlawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers include John Brandon, Robert McCain, John “Trey” Lee, Stephen Eddy, Terry Thacker, and Glenn Thacker.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 4205 Hillsboro Pike, Ste 216, Nashville, TN 37215 or to Susan Grey School for Children, Vanderbilt University Gift Processing, PMB 407727, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN 37240.

To leave a note for the family or share a memory, sign on-line guest book at AustinFuneralService.com