Rose Ann Lee

Memorial services for Rose Ann Lee, 76, of Chireno will be held Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Larry East officiating. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Carroway Funeral Home.

Rose Ann Lee passed away peacefully at home Tuesday, January 19, 2026. Rose was born December 20, 1949 in Kilgore, Texas, the second child of Harold Samuel May and Martha Elizabeth (Barrett) May. She grew up surrounded by her siblings - Sammy May, Sue (May) East, and Gary May - who still live nearby and were always an important part of her life.

If you were looking for Rose, chances are you’d find her outside. She loved being in the fresh air, hands in the soil, “playing in the dirt”, tending to her plants, or admiring whatever she could coax out of the East Texas ground. She had a soft spot for the towering fir trees of the Pacific Northwest, where her son, Larry Hye, daughter‑in‑law Adelle, and her grandson now live.

Rose approached every job she ever had with grit, pride, and a genuine love for people. She made friends everywhere she went and treated her customers like family. Her hard work even earned her an all‑inclusive cruise to the Bahamas - a trip she talked about with a smile. She also traveled to Germany, Canada, and of course to the Pacific Northwest to spend time with family.

Home was truly Rose’s sanctuary. She and her partner of 35 years, Rodney “Buford” Hulet, built a life filled with simple joys - hunting, fishing, plants, porch time, football, and plenty of laughter. She planted anything she thought might grow in East Texas dirt, even if the armadillos had other plans. Many afternoons were spent on the porch working puzzles, enjoying the quiet, and watching the hummingbirds in her little corner of the world.

Rose was also an avid fisherwoman and hunter. When hunting season rolled around, she and Buford could be found in a deer blind at camp, followed by evenings of dominoes and potluck meals shared with good friends. If it wasn’t hunting season, she was on the water in her boat with her cane poles and wide brimmed hat.

Rose deeply loved God and lived life with heart, humor, and a deep appreciation for the outdoors and the people she loved. She will be missed more than words can say, but her spirit lives on in every garden she tended, every tree she admired, and every person blessed to have known her.

Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed, at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.