C Lee Colston

Lee Colston

Christopher Lee Colston, 93, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, of causes incident to age.
Lee was born on April 30, 1925, in Tulsa, Okla., the ninth child of James Richard and Bertha Porter Colston. Despite the challenges of growing up during the Depression, he had fond memories of his childhood and spoke of it often. Upon graduating from Tulsa Central High School, he was drafted into the Seabees in 1943 during World War II, and spent the next two and a half years in the service — a bulk of the time in the South Pacific islands.
After his discharge from the service, Lee attended Brigham Young University in Provo, where he majored in zoology, physiology and anatomy, and minored in psychology and physical chemistry. During the summers, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1949, he attended an additional year of graduate school to obtain a teaching certificate. He later received a master’s degree in education from Utah State University.
In 1950, he married Diane Parkinson in the Logan LDS Temple. Their marriage was blessed with five children; Jan, Christopher Robin, Susan, Tami, and Jennifer.
Lee’s career began in Oneida Station, northeast of Preston, Idaho, teaching all eight grades in a one-room school house. From there he was offered a position teaching third grade at Adams Elementary School in the Logan School District. He then taught science at Logan Jr. High School, where he later became assistant principal — a position he held for 18 years before becoming principal at Hillcrest Elementary School for eight years. During his 35 years in the education profession, Lee was always very concerned about his students and often took underprivileged children shopping for clothing and looked out for those who struggled.
An entrepreneur at heart, Lee took on several other business ventures that filled up his summers and evenings. He and Diane started a print shop in the basement of their Logan home, where they printed student theses, ward papers and directories, genealogy, literary booklets, etc. The hum of the printing presses were a common sound at their home well into the night. Lee and his son, Robin, also wrote and marketed a computer software program that made it easier for schools to track student spending in the lunch room. After retirement, Lee handled customer service queries regarding the software over the phone.
Lee enjoyed family outings, boating, camping, sailing and skiing. He always wanted to sail the ocean with Diane, but settled for weekly jaunts to Bear Lake instead. During retirement, he built and flew remote control airplanes.
In 2003, Lee and Diane moved to Smithfield, Utah, where they lived until his passing.
Lee is survived by his wife and children, 26 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, and three grandchildren.
A private family memorial and graveside service will be held. Interment will be at the Logan City Cemetery.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family online at www.allenmortuaries.net