ForeverMissed
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This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Floren Lee Gould, 86 years old, born on September 9, 1935, and passed away on March 20, 2022. We will remember him forever.
September 13, 2022
September 13, 2022
could not ask for a nicer friend and neighbor, always helpful no matter what Lee was very smart he could talk to you about anything and got involved in community activities. Lee could be funny or serious at times, you just never knew if you should laugh or cry laugh always won
September 12, 2022
September 12, 2022
Lee,

It was an honor to call you my father-in-law for so many years. You were patient with me and always offered sound advice, but only if I asked for it. You and I had a lot in common between our Navy background and our desire to tell very bad jokes! We have shared many Navy stories over the years and I also learned some very good "Dad" jokes that I will continue to tell for years to come.

You will always be missed. Go have fun with Mike and Lou!!

"Fair winds and following seas" ...

- Jacob
September 10, 2022
September 10, 2022
My Uncle Lee always had a smile on his face and a sparkle in his eye whenever
he spoke to me as a child, a teenager, and as an adult. He had a way of turning an ordinary situation into a funny one with his dry wit which made you
have to think about what he had just said and in that pause when you were trying to decide if he was serious or being sarcastic, he would start to smile, which meant he had just sent that joke not just over your head, but through your heart and made that heart laugh along with him. 

 As I have mentioned before, he was the first male in my family to welcome me into my "manhood" years when I hired in at Inland Steel in East Chicago.
Once I took that step, he never treated me or talked to me like a child anymore. He chose to talk to me as a peer, not as a kid. To my Aunt Lou and
Aunt Dolores, I was always, "Billy", but not my Uncle Lee. That always meant
a lot to me and I respected him all the more for his concern for me as I entered adulthood without even a pat on the back from my own father, but I got that pat on the back from my uncle instead.

 At least 5 or 6 times I tried to pry into what he did for a living. He never gave me a lot of details of what or how he did his job, he would always sum-up his job as the "one who tried to keep little old ladies in their homes". My understanding of what he did was that he would coordinate with HUD and the grant monies they had at their fingertips along with other programs designed
to help those who were on fixed incomes and help those who needed help in fixing problems with their homes so they would be able to stay in their homes
and stay out of homeless shelters, nursing homes, or forced to move in with
family members who may not have wanted them to begin with or may not have enough room to accommodate these folks comfortably. He also coordinated with contractors to get the work performed on time and on budget. His efforts to "keep little old ladies in their homes" as he would say really took a lot more coordination skills, time management skills and people skills than we will ever be able to appreciate. But, I'm sure there were many
who could appreciate the work he put in to keep them in their homes. We may never know the number of people he helped along the way. But, God knows and God also knows that when one spends a majority of one's career
helping other people, that is a Life well lived.

 Thank You, Uncle Lee, for a Life well lived. A humble and simple Life mixed
with humor and that unforgettable smile. You are and always will be missed
from our midst, but never forgotten from our memories.

 Your grateful nephew,  Bill Walsh

September 9, 2022
September 9, 2022
Lee was one of the nicest people I ever met. He was always capable and smart on how to get things done or solve a problem. The world is a darker place without him.

Rest in Peace Lee.
September 9, 2022
September 9, 2022
Our church in Crown Point was like Noah's ark: we had two of every kind. And Lee and Lou Gould were certainly two of a kind! All my memories of both of them are distinct, unique, and usually, very amusing. I remember that Lee told Lou that "I would have told you anything to get you to marry me." I remember collecting angels in the dark with Lee. (We removed 3/4 sized angel altar pieces, that had been lamps, from a church attic. They were quite heavy and could be kind of scary looking). Lee's astute guidance in our church with finances, and business, and real estate, was super valuable, and unreplaceable. Lee's gentle humor made every conversation better. As their pastor, I knew I could count on them to stand with the truth of the Bible, and also to love, and to comfort, and to bless, me and my family. We are all the richer for having known them. We anticipate that Grand Reunion with them and the Lord Jesus yet to come. "Then I heard a voice from heaven. 'Write this,' it said. 'Blessed are the dead who die as believers in the Lord from now on.' 'Yes,' says the Holy Spirit. 'They will rest from their labor. What they have done will not be forgotten.'" - Revelation 14:13
September 9, 2022
September 9, 2022
Lee, I first met you when you moved across the street several years ago, we talked about life issues, our pasts. I am retired military, Lee, you a proud Navy veteran. Lee, you and I became good friends. A couple years ago you were having a small birthday dinner with your family, I surprised you with a Navy baseball hat, I'll never forget the look on your face when you saw it. I knew immediatly that I had picked the perfect gift.
Lee, I miss talking with you, I miss seeing you at the mail box, doing yard maintenance, helping each other on projects, fixing this and that, messing around in the garage. I just miss you my friend.
Lee, rest in peace. I Salute You. We will meet agian one day. Cheers.
September 5, 2022
September 5, 2022
Did-Dad, I know you are celebrating your birthday with mom, Mike, and all other family and friends who already crossed over. One day I'll go pick dandelions again with you. Love always, your grateful daughter, Jessica.

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Recent Tributes
September 13, 2022
September 13, 2022
could not ask for a nicer friend and neighbor, always helpful no matter what Lee was very smart he could talk to you about anything and got involved in community activities. Lee could be funny or serious at times, you just never knew if you should laugh or cry laugh always won
September 12, 2022
September 12, 2022
Lee,

It was an honor to call you my father-in-law for so many years. You were patient with me and always offered sound advice, but only if I asked for it. You and I had a lot in common between our Navy background and our desire to tell very bad jokes! We have shared many Navy stories over the years and I also learned some very good "Dad" jokes that I will continue to tell for years to come.

You will always be missed. Go have fun with Mike and Lou!!

"Fair winds and following seas" ...

- Jacob
September 10, 2022
September 10, 2022
My Uncle Lee always had a smile on his face and a sparkle in his eye whenever
he spoke to me as a child, a teenager, and as an adult. He had a way of turning an ordinary situation into a funny one with his dry wit which made you
have to think about what he had just said and in that pause when you were trying to decide if he was serious or being sarcastic, he would start to smile, which meant he had just sent that joke not just over your head, but through your heart and made that heart laugh along with him. 

 As I have mentioned before, he was the first male in my family to welcome me into my "manhood" years when I hired in at Inland Steel in East Chicago.
Once I took that step, he never treated me or talked to me like a child anymore. He chose to talk to me as a peer, not as a kid. To my Aunt Lou and
Aunt Dolores, I was always, "Billy", but not my Uncle Lee. That always meant
a lot to me and I respected him all the more for his concern for me as I entered adulthood without even a pat on the back from my own father, but I got that pat on the back from my uncle instead.

 At least 5 or 6 times I tried to pry into what he did for a living. He never gave me a lot of details of what or how he did his job, he would always sum-up his job as the "one who tried to keep little old ladies in their homes". My understanding of what he did was that he would coordinate with HUD and the grant monies they had at their fingertips along with other programs designed
to help those who were on fixed incomes and help those who needed help in fixing problems with their homes so they would be able to stay in their homes
and stay out of homeless shelters, nursing homes, or forced to move in with
family members who may not have wanted them to begin with or may not have enough room to accommodate these folks comfortably. He also coordinated with contractors to get the work performed on time and on budget. His efforts to "keep little old ladies in their homes" as he would say really took a lot more coordination skills, time management skills and people skills than we will ever be able to appreciate. But, I'm sure there were many
who could appreciate the work he put in to keep them in their homes. We may never know the number of people he helped along the way. But, God knows and God also knows that when one spends a majority of one's career
helping other people, that is a Life well lived.

 Thank You, Uncle Lee, for a Life well lived. A humble and simple Life mixed
with humor and that unforgettable smile. You are and always will be missed
from our midst, but never forgotten from our memories.

 Your grateful nephew,  Bill Walsh

His Life

family

September 5, 2022
Family was very important to Lee. He raised three children Michael, Laurel, and Jessica. He was very proud of his three grandchildren Elijah, Kyla, and Samuel (Bozarth).  Preceded in death by Michael, Lee went to be with his son a month after his passing. Lee, Lou, and Mike watch over the rest of the family from on high. 

Young family life

September 5, 2022
Floren Lee Gould was born in Otero, Colorado on September 9, 1935 to Harvey and Mildred Gould (nee West).  Never really liking the old family name of "Floren", he preferred to go by "Lee."  Lee was an only child who helped out his family.  He had to help with family income at the age of 9 by delivering newspapers.  

Love of Music

September 5, 2022
Many did not know this, but Lee was a very talented musician.  He played trombone since a young child. Lee also learned some trumpet.  Later he taught himself guitar and banjo (following in the footsteps of his father, Harvey Gould who played in a band called the Rocketeers,  in Rocky Ford, Colorado).  Lee additionally had a deep bass singing voice, which he would croon along with Lucrezia as she harmonized.  While in the Navy and bored on duty, he taught himself how to play the harmonica. He favorite go-to songs were Big Band music classics.
Recent stories

First Meeting as new nieghbors

September 9, 2022
SURPRISE, Lucrecia and I were classmates in high school !  Frank and Lee would get together and talk about the news of the day and Lee would help me with any computer problems that I would have,  went to our first class reunion together the three of us were all about the same age but Lucrecia always teased me about my being two months older than her.   Frank and Lee would help each other with their tractor problems, during our bad winters they would dig each other out of snow drifts, if Lee was working Frank would plow there driveway, if Frank was working Lee would plow our driveway.  Lou and  I got to be good friends, I will keep putting flowers on her grave as long as I am able.  Friends and neighbors for over fifty years, God Bless them.

Lee's First Bicycle and Tinkering

September 5, 2022
Samuel (grandson) interviewed my Lee on 7/14/21. The question was, "What did you do for fun when you were younger."  Lee replied, "Marbles swimming BA--that means bare assed--that was common--Guys would go out (BA). Maybe the girls did, too, but I don't know! (laughed) I bought my first bicycle for $5.00, and I had to put it together. My dad was a good mechanic, too. I repaired a lot of our cars as we couldn't afford it."

Lee enjoyed tinkering in his workshop. His tools were always meticulously lined up. If one tried to put it back in the wrong place, he was not happy.  If Lee couldn't fix it, then you should just throw it away! 

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