Obituary
Blythe Wilson Lee—beautiful mother, vibrant grandmother, stylish sister, and always your next best conversation—passed away on November 3, 2025, at the age of 66.
Blythe was truly iconic. Her striking style, magnetic presence, witty sense of humor, and unwavering grace made her unforgettable. She was effortlessly cool. Blythe had an extraordinary ability to sense the rhythm of the world around her—always a step ahead—and she used that insight to create meaningful experiences for everyone who knew, loved, and worked alongside her. Her visual intuition left a lasting impression, inspiring others to see the world in new and thoughtful ways. She could visualize balance, scale, and color with rare precision, and she saw and appreciated beauty—in places, in objects, and most of all, in people, both inside and out.
Born on June 10, 1959, Blythe’s curious spirit and creative eye made her an artist from a very young age. Growing up in Salt Lake City, she loved to draw, color, sew, and design fashionable clothes for her paper dolls. Her mother, Jamar, often called her “my little artist,” because Blythe always understood color—what worked together, what clashed, and what felt harmonious.
Jamar once attended a class about colors and seasons (a new idea at the time) and came home to share what she’d learned: that you should never mix Key 1 and Key 2 colors—now known as cool and warm tones. Young Blythe, sitting at the table working on a poster for a “client,” poised her marker in midair and said, “They are right”. Blythe loved working with Key 2 colors and Jamar would drive six extra miles just to get Blythe the professional-grade markers she loved.
In 1978, Blythe married and, over the next several years, became the mother of three sons—Jarom, Joshua, and Cassidy. The family moved from Utah to Texas to New Jersey before eventually settling in Champaign, Illinois. During those years, Blythe painted murals and watercolor pieces as gifts and commissions, always bringing beauty to the people around her. At her children’s elementary school, she painted a wall-size version of the famous “First Spacewalk” astronaut. Her boys felt like the coolest kids in the world as classmates stopped to watch their mom on a ladder—paintbrush in hand, another tucked in her mouth, balancing her paint palette as she worked. She once painted a stunning watercolor portrait of Mario Andretti, which was mailed to him—he autographed it and sent it back to the family.
In 1992, Blythe returned to Salt Lake City with her boys and began her career in corporate art consulting. Her drive and ambition quickly led to major contracts with prominent Utah companies. She curated and produced art for the HealthRider building, McKay-Dee Hospital, and even the Coca-Cola distribution center, where she commissioned bold, cutting-edge photography that showcased the energy and precision of the plant.
By 1995, Blythe knew her heart belonged in Chicago. She moved to Schaumburg, Illinois, and began her long and extraordinary career with Corporate Artworks, LLC. There, she completed breathtaking art programs for global clients including Oracle, Jump Trading, MetLife, Golub Capital and many more. Her work can be seen—and felt—from San Francisco to Chicago to New York to London and Singapore.
Blythe was adventurous. She loved taking her grandchildren, family, and friends to Chicago’s museums—especially the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. She never shied away from exploring ideas, expanding her understanding, or seeking truth beyond what she was told she should believe. She was witty as hell—always “accidentally” dropping dorky puns, rolling her eyes as everyone else enjoyed a good laugh. She was a wordsmith, using language both in writing and in conversation to create deep, meaningful exchanges that left lasting impressions.
Blythe is preceded in death by her mother Jamar Allen Wilson, father Jay D. Wilson, and brother Tyler D. Wilson. She is survived by her children, Jarom Rodger Lee (Melanie), Joshua Glen Lee, Cassidy Jay Lee (Lorraine) and siblings, Lane D. Wilson (Beverly), Vernarr J. Wilson (Anita), Colette Lloyd (Wally), Bart A. Wilson (Karla), Joyce Smith (Donal), Tricia Morrison (Troy), Levi Wilson, Cherie Lewis (Scott). Blythe adored and celebrated her three grandchildren, Natalia, Charlie, and Bella Lee.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. We’re committed to doing it the Blythe way—thoughtful, stylish, and absolutely proper. Please RSVP below if you’d like to be notified of the date and time.
Memories and Condolences
I am holding all of you in my thoughts and prayers during this heartbreaking time. Blythe was such a special person to me — a true friend in heart and spirit — and learning of her passing has left me in disbelief and deep sorrow.
We met in 2004, and from that moment on, not a single year passed without us staying in touch. Whether it had been days, weeks, or months, we always picked up exactly where we left off. That was the kind of friendship we had — steady, genuine, and full of trust. She was a confidant, a supporter, and someone who believed in me as much as I believed in her.
Our last conversation was in late October. She told me she was looking forward to spending some much‑needed time with her family due to some concerns she was having in Illinois, and I remember feeling so glad she would have that space to escape. When I reached out to her on New Year’s Eve to share my engagement, I assumed she was simply away and enjoying that time. I never imagined the silence meant something so final. Learning the truth today has been devastating.
I will miss her deeply — her kindness, her honesty, her laughter, and the way she always checked in, no matter how busy life became. She was a constant presence in my life for decades, and I will forever feel the absence of her friendship.
Please know that Blythe made a profound impact on my life. I will carry her memory with me always, and I am praying for comfort, strength, and peace for your family during this unimaginable loss.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Mica
I miss our long conversations…I’m so very grateful our paths crossed in this life and hope the universe brings us together again…
Love you…miss you…
Blythe had an incredible eye for detail and creativity. She created art programs that were thoughtful, meaningful, unique, and truly beautiful. I was in awe of her talent and vision and often turned to her for guidance on projects.
She was effortlessly stylish and endlessly classy, with a grace and confidence that came so naturally to her. Talking with her was always special—she was smart, witty, and somehow always found a way to bring humor into even the hardest moments.
She always asked about my kids—how they were doing, what they were up to—and truly cared, always wanting to see pictures and share in their lives. That was just who she was. I am so grateful for her guidance, her friendship, and the love she gave. She will be deeply missed and remembered always.
One memory from our conversations was when we discussed positive self talk and how it really has an impact on someone. Just saying “You can do this” or “Keep going” improves confidence and can enhance performance and motivation. The next day, I ran a 5k, and when I felt like I couldn’t keep going, our conversation echoed through my head and I told myself that I could do it. When I came back and Blythe was sitting at our table, I told her that I employed what we had talked about the night before, which then led to more tangents of thoughtful conversation. I often think about this moment and how special not only this conversation was, but how they all were.
I looked up to my aunt immensely. Not only was she amazing, thoughtful, fashionable, and witty, but Blythe was also an incredible writer. She previously shared with me stories she’s written and ideas for the screenplay she’d been working on. Her immense creativity and artistry always shone bright in all the work that she accomplished.
Love always.
Everyone at Oracle is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of our colleague Blythe, and we offer our sincere condolences to her family and friends.
While much of our business was quick and transactional, we treasured the occasions we spent more quality time with Blythe—whether during art installations or photo shoots. It was clear how much she loved her big family; I recall her sister joining her for an install in Santa Monica about six years ago.
Over the last ten years, we’ve worked with Blythe almost exclusively on projects across the US. At one time, we were reluctant to take risks or invest in artwork, but meeting Blythe changed our perspective. She made the selection process easy and gave it special meaning for our offices. Little by little, artwork became the finishing touch on our office designs, and we came to rely on her skills and resources to enhance the employee experience.
Whether she was creating bespoke accessories for the new employee library in Seattle, implementing our brand artwork in unique applications in Willis Tower, finding the perfect street artist for a mural in Santa Monica, working with the team to develop a custom wall covering in Denver or selecting just the right photos to showcase the construction of a new building in Deerfield, (and many, many, many more) Blythe always approached our projects with professionalism, enthusiasm, and a great deal of patience. These projects weren’t always glamorous, but her contributions were meaningful to many.
We will greatly miss her and the profound impact she had on our Oracle offices.
Ronda Green, MCR.w | Director, Global Workplace Design
Oracle
exceptionally patient and tireless through the selection process and the installation. She helped us find and refine our visual style and preferences and helped us create something beautiful for our office.
During that time, it was a pleasure to spend time with her professionally and personally. She spoke proudly of her family, particularly her boys. I always found inspiration in hearing about the latest museum or gallery show she had visited and everything she
had seen. We also found common ground in our love of theater and loved swapping recommendations over video conferences or dinner. Blythe was a one of a kind and she will be very missed.
- Anne Todd, Senior Director of Facilities, Golub Capital
-Rodger Lee
Blythe sent me the funniest cards with such a dry sense of humour - I really looked forward to her cards.
She absolutely loved her first Irish wedding and it certainly was not a dry wedding! She visited every attraction possible and was looking forward to returning.
Blythe was so very easy to love and beautiful company.
I’m thinking of all the family from across the pond as they navigate their way through this grief. Sending condolences to all Blythe’s loved ones.
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