LeRoy “Lee” Shively Branum, 79, Gardner, Kansas passed away Thursday, November 24, 2022 at his home. Celebration of Life will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 16, 2022 at Ocheltree Baptist Church, 20680 W 199th Street, Spring Hill, KS 66083. Graveside service to follow at 2:00 p.m. at Chapel Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pulmonary Fibrosis Association or American Heart Association. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com.

Lee was born on April 22, 1943 at Burson Nursing Home in Paola, Kansas to Emmett Clarence and Virginia (Cully) Shively. He graduated in 1961 from Paola High School. He was a Veteran serving in the United States Army Security Agency from 1962 to 1965 and was stationed in Korea on the DMZ . He earned the Sharp Shooter Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. After the military he attended and  graduated from Johnson County Community College with an Associates degree. On September 26, 1970 in Kansas City, Kansas Lee married Nancy Darlene Richards. Lee worked with the JOCO Sheriff Department, retiring after 29 years, as Director of the JOCO Crime Lab. He received the Recognition Award from JOCO Sheriff’s Office for his service from 1970-1999. He was a member of the International Association for Identification and Johnson County Extension Master Gardeners. Lee was a member of Ocheltree Baptist Church, Spring Hill, Kansas since 1985. Lee enjoyed photography, archery, motorcycle riding, metal crafting, woodworking and flying RC airplanes and drones. Lee was a 32nd degree Mason and an amateur radio operator (NOHE). He loved to watch auto racing and old westerns, especially John Wayne. Lee loved all animals but especially his pets.

Lee is survived by Nancy, his wife of 52 years, cousin John L. Vickers and wife Nettie, of Louisburg, Kansas; in-laws: Chester Richards, Jr., Danny Richards, Timothy and Debbie Richards. He was preceded in death by his parents and stepfather William Branum.