Mr. Leo "Lee" Storey Jr.

Leo (Lee) Martin Storey, Jr. died Friday, May 27, 2011 in Asheville. Mr. Storey was born on November 8, 1929 in Fairview Park, OH, a suburb of Cleveland, to the late Leo M. Storey, Sr. and Florida Elizabeth (Schmidt) Storey. He was preceded in death by his older brother Lt. Col. Robert G. M. Storey. Leo was an honors graduate of West Technical High School in Cleveland and attended Purdue University where he was active in the Purdue student government. He graduated in 1951, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering. A Distinguished Military Graduate of Purdue, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Corp of Engineers and was immediately called to active service. Promoted to 1st Lieutenant, Lee Storey served in Korea from 1952-53 as Commanding Officer C Company, 74th Engineer Combat Battalion, 36th Engineer Combat Group. After separation from the Army, he attended the University of Michigan receiving his MBA degree with high distinction from the Graduate School of Business in 1955. It was at the University of Michigan that he met his future wife, Margaret Jane Kermath. They were married in September 1956. In 1955, Lee joined the General Electric Company in their Advance Marketing Training Program at their corporate headquarters in New York City. He had a variety of increasingly responsible assignments in GE’s major appliance and television businesses. During the six years he spent at Electronics Park in Syracuse, NY as Manager of Marketing of GE’s specialty television business, he was credited with developing the first application of miniature TV cameras and video tape recorders in diagnostic medicine. In addition he was involved in the development of the first home video tape recorders and portable camera/tape recorder units introduced in the United States. In 1969, after fourteen years with General Electric, Lee and his family moved to Asheville, NC, where he joined Taylor Instrument’s Consumer Products Division (a division of Syborn Corporation) as Vice President of Marketing. Iin 1972 he was named President of Taylor’s Consumer Products Division. While living in Biltmore Forest, Lee was active in community and civic activities serving as president of the Asheville Chamber of Commerce; a member of the board of directors and the executive committee of St. Joseph’s Hospital; and a director of various civic organizations. In 1977 Lee was promoted to Group Vice-President of the Instrument Group of Sybron and relocated to the corporate headquarters in Rochester, NY. In 1980, Lee joined American Sterilizer Company (AMSCO) in Erie, PA., as Vice President, Human Resources and Investor Relations; he was named Group Vice President for the Medical Products & Instruments Division in 1983. Finally in 1985 he was named Executive Vice President, responsible for AMSCO’s hospital equipment and medical disposable products businesses. In 1988 Lee retired from AMSCO. He turned to Biltmore Forest and joined a small start-up medical device company in Research Triangle Park, NC., Cardiovascular Diagnostics Inc., as president. He commuted between Durham and Asheville for three years before completely retiring in 1991. A member of the Biltmore Forest Country Club, Lee was an avid golfer, playing up to about a month prior to his death. Surviving Lee are his younger brother Raymond Storey; wife Margaret, sons and daughter-in-laws; Leo (Anne Wood) Storey III; Patrick (Jill Machenberg) Storey; Eric (Wendy Glass) Storey and five grandchildren; Emily Storey; Allison Storey; Eric Christopher Storey; Joshua Storey and Samantha Storey. Lee was known as “the miracle man” to his friends and family. Having been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer in May 2005, he surprised everyone by surviving and being cancer free for four wonderful years for which we are very grateful. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 3, 2011 at 11:00 AM at St. Eugene’s Catholic Church with Father Ed Sheridan officiating. Interment will be held at 2:00 PM at the Western NC Veteran’s Cemetery in Black Mountain. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to Hospice. Morris Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent through the website www.morrisfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Tributes

Mr. Leo "Lee" Storey Jr.

November 8, 1929 - May 27, 2011