ST. LOUIS (KTRS) Local civic leader, philanthropist and widow of the late Des Lee … Mary Ann Lee … has passed away of natural causes. She was 90.

In 1945, Lee married Jack C. Taylor, who 12 years later founded Executive Leasing, now Enterprise Holdings. Their marriage ended in 1977, but right up until Taylor’s death in July 2016, the two shared a continuing devotion to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She married Des Lee, co-founder of Lee-Rowan Manufacturing Co., in 1978, and went on to build a strong reputation for philanthropy and civic involvement. She served on the boards of John Burroughs School, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Springboard to Learning, the Sheldon Theatre and Forest Park Forever.

Des Lee was co-founder of Lee-Rowan Manufacturing and was also a noted philanthropist. Together, she and Des Lee gave more than 70-million dollars to a wide variety of causes, including the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club, the St. Louis Symphony, United Way, the Zoo and the Missouri Botanical Garden. You can visit a website that has been created in her memory at www.maryannleeremembered.com.