Daryl Wayne Lee

Daryl Wayne Lee, 74, of White City, passed away on May 24, 2026 at Via Christi Village in Manhattan, Kansas, after a long illness.

Daryl was born on December 11, 1951, in Council, Kansas, to Keith and Jessie “Joyce” Lee. He was the oldest of the “L ee boys,” growing up alongside his brothers Jim, Doyle, Danny, and Doug.

A proud graduate of White City High School, Class of 1969, Daryl held a deep fondness for his classmates, maintaining contact with many of them throughout the years. After high school, he proudly served as a Seabees in the U.S. Navy from 1969 to 1974, serving offshore in Vietnam.

When he returned home, he married Marcia Ann Abernathy on November 2, 1974. They spent some time running Lee’s Plumbing in Halstead, Kansas, before settling back in White City. Their son, Matthew Ross Lee, was born on October 2, 1978, followed by their daughter, Lori Ella Lee, on July 29, 1981.

Daryl worked in civil service at Fort Riley and later in Wichita, where he eventually retired in 2014. Through his career, he made many lifelong friendships that he truly valued.

Daryl was also the proud owner of the Longhorn Saloon in White City from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. Those who knew him can likely still picture him hustling down Main Street in shorts—rain, shine, or snow—getting ready for the lunch crowd or the evening round-table regulars. He loved being behind the bar, bringing people together for chili cook-offs, unforgettable Halloween parties, and plenty of good conversation. He was also known for his famous smothered burritos, which are still remembered and talked about to this day.

Daryl was deeply involved in his community and was always willing to lend his time and energy to a good cause. Through chili cook-offs and other ventures, he helped raise money for various community needs, bringing people together with his trademark enthusiasm and sense of fun. He was especially proud of his years of service with the White City High School Alumni Association, where he organized numerous alumni golf tournaments and reunions that reunited classmates year after year. He also served as president of the Alumni Association and took great pride in emceeing the Alumni Reunion Banquet in unforgettable style, wearing his signature red tuxedo with tails.

One of Daryl’s greatest passions was riding his motorcycle. He was a member of the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club in the late 1980s, but over time, he came to love riding simply for the freedom of the road. He took part in the Ride for the Wall in Washington, D.C., made an unforgettable trip to the Florida Keys, rode several times to the East Coast with close friends, and attended the Sturgis Rally more times than anyone could count. For Daryl, the miles mattered, but the people mattered even more. The rides, the stories, and the friendships he built along the way became a cherished part of his life, and many of those riding companions became family.

Daryl was also deeply passionate about music, a love he passed on to his children and that will continue to echo through his family for generations. Whether it’s Matt blasting “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” from his shop loud enough to be heard across town, or Lori’s uncanny ability to recall music trivia and sing every lyric to songs from decades before her time, Daryl’s enthusiasm for music lives on. That same love is now being handed down to his grandchildren, carrying forward one of the many joyful pieces of him that will never fade.

Daryl was preceded in death by his parents, Allen “Keith” Lee and Jessie “Joyce” Lee, his brothers James D. Lee, and Dwight Lee who died in infancy, as well as his nephew, Donald J. “DJ” Estrosas Lee

He is survived by his wife, Marcia Lee; his children, Matthew Lee (Lacey Carr) and Lori Lee; his beloved grandchildren: Zachary Lee, Jada Uribe (Sergio), Devin Lee, Kaydence Bracebridge, Madelyn Lee, Augusta Lee, Della Lee, and Dutton Lee and his great grandchildren: Elanor Uribe and Theodore Uribe. He is also survived by his brothers Doyle (Estelina), Danny (Joyce), and Doug (Julie), along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

Daryl lived big, loved deeply, and left behind a legacy of laughter, loyalty, music, stories, and unforgettable memories. He brought people together wherever he went—over a song, a meal, a reunion, a motorcycle ride, or a good story told with his signature style. His impact will live on through his family, both blood and chosen, friends, classmates and the community he loved. He was deeply loved and will be missed by so many.

A celebration of Daryl's life will be held at 11:00am, Friday, June 5th, at Parkerville Baptist Church, 209 Olive-Parkerville St, White City, KS.

Memorial contributions may be made to Little Huskies Childcare and may be sent in care of Sawyer Funeral Home, PO Box 273, Council Grove, KS 66846.