Birth date: Jan 3, 1935 Death date: Dec 22, 2014
Decatur- Lee Edward Handley, 79, of Decatur, passed away Monday evening, December 22, 2014. Lee was born January 3, 1935 in Chicago to William and Hilda (Schmidt) Handley. He married Marjorie Maloney on June 21, 1958. He played pr Read Obituary
Just saw Mr. Handley’s obituary. He was my driver’s ed and gym teacher, and JV baseball coach at Lakeview. I enjoyed how he’d play football and basketball with us during gym class. Always appreciated Mr. Handley. He and my grandpa (also a baseball player) were friends, and Mr. Handley was a pall bearer at my grandpa’s funeral.
My father and I lived next door to Mr. Handley and his family in the 1960s. It seems like forever ago, and while I haven't seen him for 45 years, it seems like yesterday that all his little boys and the rest of us kids in the neighborhood were playing Kick the Can on Waggoner St. I remember the boys playing ball in the street and hearing all the sighs when they would all have to move when a car came down the street. What a different works it is now, and even though it has been awhile, I feel a deep sense of loss for the family and community with his passing. I will be saying prayers for him and all of you .
I had the pleasure to Coach both as a teacher but also a parent of Lee & Joe who played baseball on the team I managed when they were with Garfield Boys Baseball. Coach was a very compatible person but also believed on fair play. I send my sympathy to family, especially Lee & Joe. Through the years I have retold the story of Lee's home run in an all-star game. His first hit of the year. God bless you all
Lit a candle in memory of Lee Edward Handley
I played for Coach Handley during the summer for Legion Post 105 back in 76. He was a baseball man thru and thru. Thanks coach for giving of yourself to myself and all your players over the many many years. My condolences to his family. Chris CollinsMacon HS "77"
Mr. Handley and I had a great relationship. We attended the same church and his much younger kids than me attended the school also. The school had a great football/basketball program, Mr Handley only observed at that level, he knew his place. At SDHS I remember Mr Handley bragging to me about his four yr old son (Lee)was all ready switch hitting(baseball). I played two yrs of SDHS baseball for Mr Handley, a pitch runner was the only play in two yrs. Still enjoyed it.Football frosh/soph yr Mr Handley was assist coach and only handed out advice on how to do it right never being negative just straight forward, and if you made a good play you would hear Mr Handley on the sidelines. PE class was a breeze, just pay attention and do what your supposed to. Only when you were in the wrong did Mr Handley confront you and then it was over. Mr Handley also let me assist him at the run for the lunchroom, I would stand next to Mr Handley and bark at the runners in the hallway and every so often he would say to me "that a way Shields", we had fun.Mr Handley played handball one time in his life and I was also a handball player, I would challenge him and we would tease each other on who would win, The match never happened.I wish Mr Handley could of taught english this may have looked and sounded different. Chuck was right a lot of kids did not like him, they did not know him!.My sympathy to Mr Handley's family.Kevin ShieldsSDHS class of 72
My condolences to Lee's Family. He was the coach of the American Legion Team in 1975-76, the amazing team members that Mike Overlot had the privilege to play. Mike and his family loved him and respected his unique personality. It always seemed to us he controlled the entire baseball game no matter who we were playing. An opponent was disgracing one of our players. Lee got up from the bench, walk up to an umpire telling him in only a few words saying something like this: "You either get control of her behavior, or we will leave this park with a victory." He turned and sat back down on the bench. The woman actually had to leave the park and then the game was continued. He always took great care of his players and we loved him immensely. He had all sorts of tricks within his heart and mind to get the best out of his team. Though we saw him only a few times after Mike's demise, and Mike's father, Buzz, also passed into heaven… where I pray the 3 of them are having one good time together telling more unique stories about baseball during that era. I'll remember those years forever until I get to join them in heaven and tell my perception of all those events … and there were many. LEE HANDLEY WAS AMONG THE BEST COACHES EVER. I have always been grateful that Mike was chosen to be a part of that baseball team by Coach Lee. God bless his family, now and forever. Marge Overlot
Mr. Handley was my gym teacher at Stephen Decatur High School in during my junior year, 1966-67. I feared him before that. When I was a freshman I heard of Mr. Handley's reputation as a tough, strict coach. During lunch one wintery day a friend and I were sneaking a peek at the gym classes being held in Kinter Gym. It was off limits to be at the top of the ramps – disturbing the classes. Someone yelled – "Mr. Handley is coming!!!" I ran down the ramp and fell on ice or water – and broke my leg. I was in a cast for 6 weeks but I was relieved that Mr. Handley had not caught me.A couple of years before I was in Mr. Handley's class I heard from my brother how mean Coach Handley was. He got all over my brother for not going out for wrestling. My brother said he was harassed all the time and bumped heads regularly. I later came to understand that the coach really wanted my brother to use his talents and not waste them.So when I came to class my junior year I was fearful that Mr. Handley and I would have a confrontational relationship. Hopefully he wouldn't know about my gym viewing 2 years earlier. Much to my surprise, Mr. Handley treated me fairly. In short order he recognized something in me that he liked. He made me one of the calisthenics leaders. During a unit on a sport I'd never heard of – soccer – of course played indoors – since SDHS had no outside facilities. I went up for a header – who knew you could actually use your head in a sport? Unfortunately when I tried to flick the ball behind me I connected with more than the ball – Ervin Smith's eye socket. Ervin was ok but my nose got partially ripped off. A gash in the bridge of my nose between my eyes started gushing blood. Immediately Mr. Handley rushed over to me – stripped off his sweatshirt and pushed it into my face. He applied pressure and got me to the nurse. I had several stitches and a scar still remains. My esteem for Mr. Handley elevated even more. I never felt I thanked Mr. Handley enough in High School. Once I started teaching I would occasionally see him but never really talked. When my son started playing baseball at MacArthur High School – who did I see umpiring? Yep – Coach Handley. Several times after games I was able to talk with Mr. Handley. Our conversations were broader than those a student has with a teacher in high school. I developed a higher level of respect for this man. He was extremely intelligent, very knowledgeable and articulate albeit with a tough guy persona. I know Mr. Handley wasn't a perfect person and battled his own demons in life. I knew a lot of my fellow students didn't like him. But I don't think they knew the whole man. A very good man. I am glad I was able to thank him for the part he played in changing my life for the better.I offer my sympathies to Mr. Handley's family.Chuck Force
Mr. Handley was one of my favorite teachers at Lakeview High School. He was my PE teacher and driver's ed teacher. My heartfelt sympathies to his family. He will be greatly missed in the community of Decatur! Linda (Johnson) ArnoldClass of 1981Lakeview High School
It seems in some other lifetime that Lee and I taught together at Stephen Decatur High School, so long ago. Please accept my sincere sympathy for your loss. Sherry Parriott
