Dawn Lea (Denny) Lee

Dawn Lea Lee, 80, a resident of Bliss, passed away suddenly on Friday, November 21, 2025, at St. Luke's Medical Center in Boise, Idaho.

Dawn was born November 10, 1945, the daughter of John G. and Leila Denny.  She was raised and educated in Fairfield, Idaho, living on the Camas prairie for many years.

Dawn endured a number of setbacks during her life; polio as a child, cancer as a young mother, then CLS and congestive heart failure in later life.  Through it all, Dawn persevered and strove to overcome all adversities and to make the best of any circumstance.  She often remarked “life is not fair, get on with it”.  An outdoors enthusiast, Dawn was an avid angler, as a high-school athlete, she played on the Camas County basketball team that went on to win fifty consecutive games. Dawn would later be inducted into the Idaho High-School Athlete Hall of Fame with her teammates. Those who knew her best admired Dawn’s independent spirit, resourcefulness, and innovative and creative abilities; there was very little she could not do well once she set her mind to it. Dawn’s greatest passion was for her family; she was devoted to her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and to her extended family as a whole.  

Dawn is survived by her companion, Michael Kast of Bliss, Idaho; her sons, Carl Anthony Ashmead of Hereford Arizona, and Carl Ryan Ashmead of Meridian Idaho.  Dawn is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Victoria Ashmead, Hillary (Ashmead) Francom, Morgan Ashmead, Paige Ashmead, Chase Ashmead, and Adam Ashmead; and two great grandchildren, Reagan Francom, and George Francom. 

Dawn is preceded in death by her father, John Denny; her mother and step-father, Leila and Rex O’Neil; and her husband Jim Lee.

A deep, heartfelt thank you to Jodie Pavkov for her loving care for Dawn in the last years of her life.

There will be a private memorial graveside service for family and close friends to be held in late spring/early summer 2026.

Cremation arrangements are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service - Gooding Chapel.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dawn Lea (Denny) Lee, please visit our floral store.