Palestine High School Alumni Association

Services for Lee Roy Baty, 80, of Tyler are scheduled for Thursday, June 23, 2011, at 1 p.m. in the chapel of Stewart Family Funeral Home with Dr. Darryle Dunks officiating. Burial will be in Rose Lawn Cemetery under direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home.Mr. Baty passed away on June 18, 2011, in Tyler.

Lee Roy Baty, son of Horace and Eva Jennings Baty, was born July 25, 1930, in Palestine. Lee Roy grew up in the Neches community and graduated from Palestine High School in 1949. He joined the Armyand saw action during the Korean War at the Inchon Landing and the Chosin Reservoir. After returning home, he attended Stephen F. Austin State University, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. While at college, he met and married Bettye Todd of Longview.

Mr. Baty’s professional career spanned 32 years, during which he taught elementary students in the Houston area, Pueblo, Colo., Dickinson, and Deer Park, where he retired after 25 years as teacher and principal.

Retirement years brought the Batys back to East Texas where Lee Roy continued his lifelong interest in hunting, fishing, and raising and training hunting dogs. He also helped build churches in four states during his association with Volunteer Christian Builders.

He accepted Christ as Savior as a teenage boy. He was a faithful Baptist throughout his life and was an ordained deacon. At his death, he held the position of Deacon Emeritus at Green Acres Baptist Church.

Lee Roy was instrumental in founding East Texas Korean War Veterans, Chapter 286, in 2001 and served as its first president. This group was eventually named in his honor and is still an active military organization today.

Mr. Baty was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Charles Baty.

Lee Roy is survived by Bettye, his wife of 54 years; sons, David Baty and wife Patti of Richardson and Gary Baty of Tyler; daughter, Donna Veenendaal and husband Alan of The Woodlands; sisters, Leona Wearden, Mickey Johnson and Mary McKelvey, all of Palestine, and Ida Baty of Irving; brothers, Sam Baty of Houston and Harold Baty of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Todd Baty, Laura Baty Wallace, Tom Baty, Taylor Veenendaal, and Lee Ann Baty.

Pallbearers will be nephews and grandsons. Honorary pallbearers are Korean War Veterans, Lee Roy Baty Chapter 286.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Volunteer Christian Builders at Green Acres Baptist Church or East Texas Korean Veterans, 15716 Big Oak Bay Road, Tyler, 75707

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, at the funeral home.