Manuel Jay Lee

December 23, 1974 — January 9, 2024

Manuel Jay Lee walked on to the Big Camp on January 9th in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. He was born in Idaho December 23rd, 1974 to Mae and Nelson Lee. He was the second youngest of six. He was born into the Red Bottom and Edge of the Water Clan of the Navajo Nation.

Manny went to school in Roberts, Idaho and also attended high school in Rigby, where he graduated in 1993. He grew up on a farm and boy did he love it. He would tell his tales of moving pipe, harvesting and driving the tractors to the driving trucks. Up to the day he passed, Manny would talk about farming and the youtube farmers he watched.

Manny later attended and graduated from Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI). He graduated with honors and was part of the Phi Beta Kappa society. Upon graduation, he was chosen to be an intern at Intel, where his journey to being the greatest engineer began.

During this time, Manny’s older children, Nate and Mckenzie Lee, were born.

Manuel met Raven in 2007. They quickly fell in love and became inseparable after that first date. Where ever you seen one, the other was close behind. They were married in 2011, in a private traditional Lakota ceremony conducted by his adopted brother, Junior Garcia i. Albuquerque. In a quote from a mutual friend of theirs, “you know those couples that you see and you know they found their soulmate. That was them..”

Manny and Raven were soulmates in every sense of the word, from finishing each others sentences, to committing to a lifetime together.

Manuel became a father again when they were blessed with their daughter Stormy in 2011. Manny was a wonderful father and husband to his little family. Stormy quickly had her daddy wrapped around her little finger. He loved sharing his knowledge of electronics and sports with her. Daddy and daughter could be seen fixing the car to doing odd jobs around the house. They shared a love of music, gaming and movies.

Manny took excellent care of his family no matter what condition he was in. You would see the three of them attending powwows, traveling and just enjoying life together.

Manny moved to Poplar, Montana on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. He rapidly made friends and family for life. Manny was known for fixing almost anything and helping people when he could. People would describe him as a good guy and a caring man. He would give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it.

After about a year of living in the Big Sky state, they moved back to New Mexico.

Manny is survived by his wife Raven Teboe Lee and 3 children. Stormy Lee of Rio Rancho, Mckenzie Lee of Albuquerque and Nate Lee of Arizona, mentioning also his adopted daughter Kristin Parshall of Poplar, MT, his brothers Norman (Jean) Lee of Rio Rancho, NM, Myron (Melissa) Lee of Albuquerque, his sisters Nora, Medley, and Norma Lee all of Albuquerque, adopted brothers and sisters from his ceremony family too numerous to name. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and grandkids from Montana, North Dakota , South Dakota, and Nebraska.

Manuel is preceded in death by his parents May and Nelson Lee. His sons Xavier, Xander, Jay and daughter, little Dallas.

Manny will be cremated following service and some of his ashes will be spread at his favorite fishing spot on the Ft Peck Reservation.

Manny will be greatly missed …

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Manuel Jay Lee

December 23, 1974 — January 9, 2024

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