James Bracken Lee

1930 ~ 2021

Obituary Photo for James Bracken Lee < >

James Bracken Lee, a man with a generous heart, passed away peacefully at home on December 26. A new General has entered heaven. James was born April 28, 1930 in Price, Utah to Margaret Draper and J. Bracken Lee. James graduated from Carbon High School in 1948 and was appointed to the West Point Military Academy. He graduated from West Point with honors in 1952. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant and served in the Korean War. When he completed his active military duties, he returned to Salt Lake City and worked for Kennecott Copper Corporation as a civil engineer. In 1957, he went to Stanford University Law School and later transferred to George Washington University College of Law, graduating In 1960. Returning to Utah, he clerked at the Utah Supreme Court. He joined Parsons Behle Evans & Latimer in 1961, a small firm of six lawyers. He was instrumental in the growth of the firm and served as President from 1979 to 1993 and retired in 2020.
James loved the law. His service over the years to the Utah State Bar was legendary. He served as a Bar Commissioner and as its President, and he was recognized for numerous leadership roles. He mentored many young lawyers, emphatically promoting the careers of women lawyers. In 1998 he was the first male recipient of
the prestigious Dorothy Merrill Brothers Award for the advancement of women in the legal profession. The Utah State Bar gave him its Lifetime Achievement Award. He was a founding member of the Utah Legal Services serving as Chairman of the Board in 1978. He was appointed by the Utah Supreme Court to Chair the Lawyer Discipline Committee. He was a member of the Board of the American Bar Association from 2000 to 2003. He served on the ABA Federal Judiciary Committee from 2003 to 2006. He received the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation's Outstanding Service Award in 2005. He was a founding member and Board President of Florence J. Gillmor Foundation 1987 - 2019. In 2016 he
was honored by Westminster College with a Doctorate of Public Service. He gave his all to the legal profession and received multiple awards for his remarkable service to the community over 50 plus years.
James also loved the military. He was deeply committed to his military assignments. He was a graduate of the U. S. Army War College. He served for over 30 years in the Utah National Guard and was President of the Utah National Guard Association in 1966. As a Colonel he taught leadership skills to guard members. He was Commander of the XI Corp Artillery. He retired as a Brigadier General in 1983.
James was a member of the Wasatch Masonic Lodge No. 1 for 66 years. He held a 32nd Degree and Knight Commander of the Court of Honor of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, achieving the same degree as his father and grandfather.
James hiked all the mountain peaks in Utah more than once and belonged to the historic Wasatch Mountain Club for many
years serving as their legal counsel.
He married Jeanne Mitchell in 1961. They were later divorced. In 1978 he married his loving partner, Evelyn Brown Lee. They were soulmates and loved each other unconditionally for over 43 years . Together they travelled extensively, enjoyed river rafting, tennis, hiking, politics, lively discussions and laughter. James loved parties and his many friends. He enjoyed a glass of good wine and joyfully entertained with enthusiastic storytelling. He was proud of his children and loved them deeply.
The family would like to thank his wonderful law partners, Raymond Etcheverry and Frances Wikstrom for their enduring love, commitment and assistance especially during the past year of his illness.
James is survived by his loving wife, Evelyn, and his devoted children, James M. Lee (Judith), Bonn, Germany; Johanna Lee (San Antonio, Texas); Jennifer Brown Christiansen (Kurt) Dover, New Hampshire; and Dr. Jonathan H. Lee (Denison), Ashland, Oregon. His grandchildren (Rachel Christiansen, Ian Christiansen, Elsa Lee, Greta Lee, River Echohawk and Rainn Echohawk); his sister Jon L. Taylor (Lewis); brother-in-law Victor Wilson (Yolanda), as well as many loyal friends, nieces, nephews and cousins.
As per James's wish he was cremated, and there will be no funeral service. A celebration of life will be held later. Those who wish to make donations may consider his favorite organization "and Justice for all".


Guestbook/Condolences

Dearest Evelyn:
I want to tell you how much I have appreciated the support and many personal kindnesses over many years from Mr. Lee and you.
I would like to share two memories of Mr. Lee that impacted my life and my legal career with you. As you may recall, Mr. Lee was on the Board at Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake when I first started there in 1991. When AJFA honored me (a surprise) on my 25 years at Legal Aid, Mr. Lee "confessed" to me that when I applied to be the director, he voted for my competition - who happened to be a more senior attorney at Legal Aid at the time. Although Mr. Lee said something to the effect of "I underestimated your potential", I replied that "the jury is still out on that assessment." Although he may have had his doubts about my role at Legal Aid, he has been nothing but an unrelenting supporter of Legal Aid Society as a long-standing institution in Salt Lake County (we celebrate our centennial in 2022!) and to me as its Director and on a personal level.

The second memory is the advice he gave me as the new Director of Legal Aid when he left the Board.
Even though Mr. Lee was one of the founders of Utah Legal Services, he warned me not to "get in bed with ULS" because if they got defunded from the federal government, he didn't want Legal Aid to be dragged down with them. When the agencies (Utah Legal Services, Disability Law Center and Legal Aid) were contemplating forming "and Justice for all" we did a feasibility study with the "powers that be" in the legal community. Of course, Mr. Lee was on the list, but because of the conversation above, I insisted that we meet with him LAST - hoping that we could use positive input from others to counter his prior admonition. When we did meet with him and explain the mission, he said "I fully support this and think it is an idea whose time has come." I was stunned - and for the first - and only - time in our relationship, I questioned him to the effect of "What the hell? What about your prior advice not to get in bed with government funded legal non-profits?!" He laughed and shrugged and said, "Times and circumstances change - this is the right thing to do and the legal community will support what you are doing." And to back up his prediction, he made sure Parsons Behle & Latimer was the first firm to make a pledge to the annual campaign and made sure it was the largest supporting donation - to set an example for the rest of the firms to follow.

In both public forums and in person, Mr. Lee has been our "champion for justice" at "and Justice for all" and our joint efforts to make justice a reality for those most in need throughout Utah. You two have been so very generous with your advice, leadership, service and "purse." We simply would not be WHO we are and WHERE we are without the likes of Mr. Lee.

I wanted to share this with you as you mourn, but celebrate Mr. Lee's life. I hope that sweet memories of a life shared together will - in time - be more prominent in your waking hours than the grief that you feel at his passing. All my best to you and your family.

Stewart


- Stewart P Ralphs

Evelyn - my condolences. A life so welled lived and cherished. I


- Sarah Behrens

Dear Evelyn and Family,

We were saddened to learn of James' passing. We became acquainted, of course, through you, Evelyn, and your incredible work on behalf of what is now The Road Home. James, too, supported the work of the shelter and through him, so did Parsons Behle and Latimer for which the agency was always very appreciative.

In later years, it was our pleasure to have occasional contact with you and James at the annual Chili Affair and at the Utah Symphony.

Evelyn, please know that we are thinking of you and your family at this time.

Warm regards,

Maun and David Alston


- David and Maun Alston

I served with James on the Governor's Tax Reform Commission. He was a very careful thinker and was motivated to find reasonable solutions to complex tax and economic questions. He made Utah a better place and his wisdom and insight will be missed. There are few members of the Utah Bar that make contributions like James Lee did.

Gary Cornia
Emeritus Dean
Marriott School of Business
Brigham Young University


- Gary Cornia

James was my friend. Our friendship began over 50 years ago when I served as a lowly cook in XI Corps Artillery, of which he was commander. That our friendship began in that context is a testament to James's good treatment of all, irrespective of station. Our friendship continued without interruption after I, too, became a lawyer. James thereafter continued to serve as my informal mentor and colleague. We both served long terms on the Utah Supreme Court's lawyer Disciplinary Committee. Since his involvement preceded mine, he was again my mentor and still my friend. Our regular lunches continued until COVID prevented them. He always carried a funny little notebook that recorded whose turn it was to pay. He was a dry, charmingly fastidious fellow.
James was an uncommonly intelligent, kind, able man of stellar integrity. He improved everyone and everything he touched. He so loved and was proud of his wife Evelyn and his family. I send them all my condolences.
Goodbye, my friend. I will miss you.


- Bruce A. Maak

Evelyn and Family,
Please accept my deep condolences for Jim's passing. I knew and admired Jim from my earliest legal days in the 1970's, and always admired his great professionalism and heart. Evelyn, we have known each other through mutual community and public services.
I wish you well in difficult times. Please let me know if I can ever be of assistance,
Ralph


- Ralph Becker

Our hearts go out to you, Evelyn, at this time. What a great man and a great lady. What a comfort it always was to Margaret to know that when the school trust was in danger, wise counsel was always just a call away. James once said that serving on the Board of Trustees for the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration was amoung his most rewarding assignments. He will be fondly remembered and appreciated amoung those he impacted there.


- Howard and Margaret Bird