"Irma, my heartfelt sympathies are with you and your family. May you be comforted by years of wonderful memories created by your life with Lee."
In loving memory of
Robert 'Lee' Kavanaugh
September 1, 2020 - June 19, 2013
ROBERT "LEE" KAVANAUGH Lee Kavanaugh, age 74 of Montgomery, passed away at 12:28 am Wednesday June 19 at Daviess Community Hospital. He was born Robert Lee Kavanaugh on September 11, 1938 in Lawrenceville, Illinois, to Louis Sr. and Catherine McCauley Kavanaugh. He was a 1956 graduate of Montgomery High School and 1963 graduate of Indiana State Teachers College (now Indiana State University). Lee taught over 40 years, almost all of it in the Loogootee Community School System. He was a highly successful coach and mentor, touching thousands of student athletes over three generations in basketball and baseball, mostly at the junior high level. Lee was an active parishioner at St. Peter Catholic Church in Montgomery. Lee was also an active contributor to his community, with leadership positions in civic groups like the Ruritan and charitable organizations like St. Vincent de Paul and Feed My Sheep. As an avid gardener, he shared the bounty of the harvest with multiple organizations and needy individuals across Daviess and Martin County. He loved the land and was a prominent member of the farming community in Daviess and surrounding counties. Lee is survived by his wife Irma (Early) Kavanaugh and their three sons, Jeff (Melanie) Kavanaugh of Colleyville, Texas, and their children Katherine and Terri Lynn; Steve (Trish) Kavanaugh of Evansville, and their children Julia and Michael; and Jason (Katie) Kavanaugh of Frisco, Texas and their children Tyler and Brady. Lee is also survived by two sisters Mary Kay (Dave) Andres of Indianapolis, Charlotte Ann (Jerry) Lewinski of Manchester, Missouri. He is also survived by six brothers, John (Donna) Kavanaugh of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Albert Kavanaugh, Louis (Liz) Kavanaugh, Jr., and David (Cleta) Kavanaugh, all of Montgomery, Steve Kavanaugh of Indianapolis, and Mark (Clara) Kavanaugh of Greenwood, Indiana. He is preceded in death by brother Tim (Sue) Kavanaugh of Indianapolis, and his parents Louis Sr. and Catherine Kavanaugh of Cannelburg. Lee Kavanaugh was a loved husband, father, brother, teacher, coach, and friend to many, and we will miss him dearly as he goes to his eternal rest. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Saturday at St. Peter Catholic Church Fathers James Koressel, Kenneth Walker, and Joseph Erbacher as co-celebrants. Burial will follow in St Peter Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 PM on Friday and on Saturday from 9 to 10:45 AM all at St Peter Catholic Church. Memorial donations may be given to St Vincent DePaul Society 815 East Main Street Washington, Indiana 47501
Tributes
"May it help to know that there are others who care. You have our deepest sympathy."
"My sincere thoughts are with you, Irma while adjusting to Lee's passing. Life will be so different for you but you must be comforted now by all your family and friends. I so miss all my Indiana connections. My prayers go to all of you; I hope someday in the future we are able to see each other. Recall the numerous good times in your 50 plus years of marriage. I like Morrie Schwartz' thought: "Death ends life, not a relationship." All the love you two shared is still there; Lee will live on in all the lives he touched and nurtured. May God's blessings be with all of you."
"He was the kindest and most compassionate middle school teacher I had in school. I wanted to play basketball and in those days there were no girls' basketball teams but he showed me some fundamentals of basketball on his "spare" time which later helped me to a partial sports scholarship in college. I will always be grateful to him and his help. I was quite the handful in school and his guidance kept me on track. I am sadden I could not attend but wanted to leave my condolences to his family. The Lord needed him more. The Lord has a great job for him to do in heaven. God has a great man for the job that is for sure. He will be missed."
"So sorry to hear about Lee's passing. My condolences to Lee's family and his sisters and brothers."
"Jason, Katie and Family, we are so sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with you."
"Lee was a great person, friend and coach. He impacted so many lives over the years and I was so fortunate to be able to get to know him. I still cherish and respect the opportunity to coach against him and the respect he always gave me everytime we spoke. The family has my deepest condolences during this difficult time. RIP Coach!"
"Irma, Jason, Katie and the entire Kavanaugh family: Our heartfelt condolences to you on the passing of Lee. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. We wish you peace to bring comfort to your hearts and loving memories forever to hold in your heart. "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Hebrews 4:16 With Love, Steve, Linda, Robert, Michael, Andrew and Thomas Grimmer"
"my condolences to the entire lee kavanaugh family."
"Beth and I are the same age as Steve, but went to W.C. We are so sorry to hear about Lee. We remember him as a basketball player after college in Y-league or some other league. He seemed to be a wonderful teacher, coach, and all around GREAT guy. I'm sure he will be missed by so many. You have a wonderful family and Lee was such a big part of that love you all seem to share with so many. Please accept our deepest sympathy. You have another saint in heaven looking out for you."
"Hello Albert, My sympathy to you and to all of your family at the loss of your brother Lee. I will be keeping you in my prayers. I'm sure his will be missed by many."
"To David, Please accept my deepest sympathy for the passing of your brother Lee. Lee came to my father's visitation back in 2011 and recalled playing ball with my father (Norman Arvin) during his youth. He attended Montgomery High School (MHS) with my mother, Margie (Seal) Arvin. He remembered that I was one of his former students in his typing class back in 1980-1981. He was a very sweet man and great teacher at Loogootee High School (LHS). I was fortunate to have known him. May your fond memories of him comfort you during this difficult time. Janet (Arvin) Ramsey"
"Lee was a good friend and a great teammate. Whoever has been playing shortstop in Heaven will now have to move over. To Albert, Dave, Steve, Mark, John, Louis, Charlotte, and Mary Kay, my heartfelt condolences. It was only a few weeks ago that I sat out at the Kavanaugh homestead one night reminiscing about old times with Albert, Dave and Mark, and wishing Lee were with us. But it was past his bedtime. Godspeed, Lee."
"I would like to extend my sympathy to the entire family. I am so sorry that I will not be able to attend the visitation or the funeral service, but please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all! In case you cannot place who I am, I am a daughter of Mary Jo Kavanaugh Hasler, daughter of Albert J. My heart goes out to all of you. . ."