Mr. Lee Absher, Jr., age 73, of West Jefferson, passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 1:00pm at the First Baptist Church in West Jefferson with Rev. Michael Lea and Rev. Ken Morris officiating. Burial will follow in the West Jefferson City Cemetery with military rites. The family will receive friends from 11:00am until 1:00pm on Saturday, two hours prior to the funeral service at the church. Mr. Absher was born in Wilkes County on Friday, January 31, 1936 to the late Numa Lee, Sr. and Irene Kilby Absher. Lee was involved in the Lion's Club and also served on the town council. Mr. Absher is survived by his wife, Barkley Moore Absher; three sons, Mark Absher and wife, Vickie of West Jefferson, Phillip Absher and wife, Terri of Troy, NC, Scott Absher and wife, Tara of Finksburg, MD; seven grandchildren, Steven and Ritchie Absher, Morgan, Brad, Matthew, Madison, Caroline Absher; one niece, Vickey C. Helms. Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of West Jefferson, P.O. Box 180, West Jefferson, NC 28694 or to the Wake Forest University Health Sciences for Lung Research Fund, Attn. Development and Alumna Affairs Office, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1021.