Jody Kleet Lee

Jody Kleet Lee, 72, of Benton, Kentucky, passed away on Sunday, July 6, 2025, at Baptist Health of Paducah.
 
Jody Kleet Lee was one of a kind. Never content to do things the way things should be done, she did things her own way. After receiving her bachelor's in psychology from the University of Louisville, she attended nursing school in Paducah and worked at Western Baptist. Eventually, she worked as a cardiac care nurse in California and a psychiatric nurse in Texas. Her greatest blessings in life were her two children, that she referred to as her miracle and answer to her prayer, after being told she couldn’t have any. She instilled in them a love of art, medical trivia, and a sense of humor, and encouraged them to do whatever they wanted to do. She was a junior master in Bridge, following in the footsteps of her father, Arch Kleet, and loved playing cribbage with anyone who would play with her. She loved long walks on the beach, eating shrimp at Derby, and laughing with friends over a Peroni. She was a dog person, owning several Dalmatians, until she was converted into a cat person by her daughter. She leaves behind three grandcats, Frank, Sasha, and Mooshie.
 
Jody is survived by her children Carson Kleet Lee of Benton, Kentucky and Meryl Lee of St. Petersburg, FL; her siblings Sandy Gutermuth of Louisville, Kentucky, Allan Kleet (Julie) and Jane Gamble (Oscar) of Paducah; her niece Amy Miller (Mike) of Dayton Ohio and nephew Brandon Gutermuth of Louisville, Ky.
 
She was preceded in death by her parents, Arch Kleet, Verba Dockery Kleet, and Barbara C. Kleet; and a nephew, Chad Gamble.
 
“You have a place in my heart that no one else could.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald
 
Milner & Orr Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Paducah is in charge of arrangements.
 
Share a memory or leave a message for the family at www.milnerandorr.com.