IN MEMORIAM: Everett Lees, Former Faculty
The Rev. Dr. Everett Cooper Lees, former adjunct professor of Preaching, died suddenly of Pancreatic Cancer, September 11, 2024.
Born August 24, 1976, in Oklahoma City, OK, to Ann Masterson Lees and Donald H. Lees, he attended Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Oklahoma City. He loved the liturgy but couldn’t take communion because he wasn’t Catholic. At the prompting of a friend, he started attending St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Edmond, OK where he could get the liturgy, and the bread and wine.
He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2000 earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. He was a proud member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. His first job out of college was at an internet startup in Tulsa, before taking a job as a clerk in Jim Inhofe’s office in Oklahoma City. He then worked for The Oklahoman, a newspaper, in advertising sales.
Lees met Kristin Steinbruck in August 2001, and the pair were engaged just nine months later. He had three requirements for a partner- they needed to be a Christian, an OU grad and a fan of Gerald Ford- who did not attend Everett’s high school graduation, despite receiving an invitation. Fortunately, Kristin fit that bill. They married a year later on May 3, 2003.
During this time, he and Kristin continued to attend St. Mary’s, and both got involved with leading the youth group. He was also continually asked if he had considered the priesthood, but always scoffed at the suggestion.
Most people only dream of leaving the kind of legacy that Everett Cooper Lees left and having the kind of impact that he had on everyone he met, from his parishioners to the Diocese of Oklahoma to the owner of his favorite sandwich shop. He made everyone he met feel like a friend— because they were now. Countless people have said he changed their life— maybe even saved their life— just by being himself. He listened without judgment. Cared without conditions. Supported without strings attached. It was obvious that he would become a priest, just not to him.
Finally in 2005 the call was too strong to deny, and Lees decided to enter seminary. The couple moved to Austin so he could attend the Seminary of the Southwest. He graduated with his MDiv in May 2009 and moved back to Oklahoma. His first job in ministry was as a curate at St. Patrick’s in Broken Arrow. Not long after, their first daughter, Maggie, was born.
Lees served at St. Patrick’s until July 2011 when he became the vicar at Christ Church Episcopal, a parish that at the time had an average Sunday attendance of 40 people. Their second daughter, Cate, was born just five months later. Their son, Conrad, followed in February 2014. During Lee’s 13 years at Christ Church, the church grew to an average Sunday attendance of 400 and transitioned from a mission to a parish. He earned his Doctorate in Ministry from Virginia Theological Seminary in 2017, making him The Rev. Dr. Everett C. Lees, although he never asked anyone to call him anything but a vicar. He liked that it made him sound like he was solving crimes in a small English village.
The significance and imprint that Everett and Kristin have had on Christ Church cannot be overstated. His sermons brought laughs and tears every time he stood in front of the congregation. His words and messages of God’s love had a way of healing people and making them think of how God was reflected in their life.
But it was more than his words– it was also his acts. Despite being an introvert, Everett made personal connections with almost everyone he met.
Everett was also devoted to Holland Hall Episcopal School, where his and Kristin’s kids attend. He served as a dad, in various volunteer positions, he served on the board of trustees and last year, he served as one of the upper school chaplains.
Everett loved to volunteer and give back to the community. He was involved in all of the various outreach ministries that Christ Church supported and he was a devoted volunteer for Reading Partners.
Everett also loved to laugh and never took himself seriously. He never minded being the butt of the joke and found the humor and humanity in almost every situation.
Everett’s favorite place to be was Grand Lake. He had such fond memories of many decades of family, friends and boating. His most fond moments were those of losing numerous life jacket straps, ropes, bumpers, noodles, and being there for a whole week before realizing he didn’t have shoes.
He loved listening to Neil Diamond and going to Red Dirt Country concerts with friends. Everett loved watching Titans football, all OU sports, Friends, Seinfeld, Dallas, Father Brown Mysteries, Hallmark Movies, and Murder She Wrote. Luckily for Kristin, Anglela Lansbury was already spoken for.
Not that he didn’t have his flaws, just ask those who worked the closest with him. I don’t think anyone was surprised when he mentioned he had ADHD. But even when others’ frustrations came out, Everett took the criticism; he never dished it out.
In August 2024, he was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. Despite receiving this news with a go fight attitude, he lost his battle a short 16 days later, on September 11, 2024.
He is survived by his wife, Kristin, and his children Maggie, Cate and Conrad; his parents Ann and Don Lees of Edmond, OK; his brother Jason and wife Julie and their children Elizabeth, Enzo and Tim of Edmond, OK; his in-laws Gary and Colleen Steinbruck of El Reno, OK; his brother-in-law Ryan and wife Tana and their children Dominick and Blayke of El Reno, OK; as well as several cousins, aunts and uncles; not to mention the hundreds of friends and parishioners that have become family.
Funeral Mass will be held Sunday, September 22 at 3 p.m., in All Saints Chapel at Holland Hall Episcopal School, 5666 E. 81st St., in Tulsa, OK.
Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt Glenpool-Bixby Funeral Service & Cremation Care Centers, 1329 East 151st Street, Glenpool, OK 74033. Family and friends may leave kind words of comfort, special memories and condolences to the family online at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com
From an obituary published by Schaudt-Glenpool-Bixby, Sept. 14, 2024.
https://www.schaudtfuneralservice.com/obituaries/rev-dr-everett-lees