Lee Townes

William Lee Townes, 90, of Cape Girardeau passed away Wednesday, April 8, 2015, at the Lutheran Home.

He was born Jan. 31, 1925, in VanDuser, Missouri, to Nathaniel Forrest and Ida Francis Hedge Townes. He and Eva Mae Rocassi Miller were married Oct. 1, 1966. She passed away Feb. 8, 2008.

Lee was raised in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. He graduated from mortuary school in St. Louis. He worked for the former Stanton Mortuary in Ste. Genevieve, and later for the former Walther's Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

He and Eva owned and operated Townes Laundromat and 1-Hour Martinizer at Town Plaza in Cape Girardeau. He was also a salesman for the former Dean Taylor Cadillac, and retired from Cape GMC, both in Cape Girardeau. Lee had a passion for automobiles, both vintage and otherwise.

Loving survivors include a daughter, Deanna Miller Kranawetter and her husband, Ed; six grandsons, Matt (Liberty) Murray and their children, Elliott, Morgan, Sullivan and Harper of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Nathan (Jessica) Malahy and their children, Alex and Kaelynn of Cape Girardeau, Luke Malahy and daughter, Lilana, of Cape Girardeau, Russell (Christy) Malahy and their son, Wyatt of DeWitt, Arkansas, Kent Kranawetter and daughter, Dakota, and Kurt Kranawetter of Cape Girardeau.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Marsha Miller Murray; a sister; and a brother.

The Rev. Virgil Kelm will officiate a graveside memorial service at 1 p.m. Thursday at Cape County Memorial Park.

Arrangements by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the donor's choice of charity.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.