Guy M Lee
Obituary
Captain Guy Martin Lee, D.Min, U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps
Guy Martin Lee passed away peacefully in May 2026, in the presence of his wife and children in Dallas, Texas. Although his life was shortened, due to unforeseen and unexpected health complications, Guy’s impact as a spiritual leader for nearly 30 years in the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps, his public service at the U.S. State Department, and his dedication in being a faithful husband and father will all be fondly remembered by his family, and the many servicemembers he led, trained, mentored and cared for. Guy is now in the presence of his Savior, Jesus Christ, in whom he placed his faith, and in whom he also found to be faithful.
Guy was born in the San Francisco Bay Area, in 1959, to his devoted parents Joe and Lily Lee. While he was still a boy his mother passed away, and his father later remarried. His stepmother Stella helped raise Guy and his younger sister, Joanne. Around the time he graduated from high school, Guy visited a local church, and placed his faith in Jesus Christ. That decision guided all other life decisions Guy made for the rest of his life.
After graduating from California State University- Sacramento with an Economics degree in 1982, Guy felt a strong call to Christian ministry. He served with Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) for a few years, and subsequently enrolled at Biola University in 1988. While studying at Biola, Guy was the Director of College and Young Adult Ministries at Sierra Madre Congregational Church in California, where he discovered his passion to encourage young adults in the Christian faith. He graduated with a Master of Divinity in Theology, Biblical Studies and Christian Education, in 1991.
After receiving his ordination from the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference USA (CCCC), Guy was commissioned to active duty as a U.S. Navy Chaplain in 1991. Early in his naval career, Chaplain Guy Lee faithfully served his Sailors, Marines, and their families, as their Pastor and confidant throughout the globe and particularly in the Middle East. Guy was assigned and deployed on several warships: the USS GRIDLEY (CG-21), and the USS KEARSARGE (LHD-3), in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH (1992) and IRAQI FREEDOM (2004), earning the Combat Action Ribbon, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals.
Promoted to the rank of Commander, then to Captain, Guy’s chaplaincy became more complex as he was appointed to care for various U.S. Navy S.E.A.L. units in San Diego and the U.S. Marines at 1ST Marine Division, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Continually being deployed to either Iraq or Afghanistan, in four overseas combat deployments, Guy Lee’s exceptional performance and faithfulness to the mission assigned him to higher levels of responsibility as a military chaplain.
While deployed with I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) as part of U.S. Regional Command Southwest, Afghanistan, Guy became responsible for all Coalition religious ministry support operations in Helmand Province. Working closely with other faith leaders, to include Muslim imams, he was a critical advisor for the Commanding General. Simultaneously, Captain Lee provided strong leadership and wise counsel for dozens of junior chaplains under his care, as well as for providing spiritual care for deployed service members who asked for his sage wisdom and support. For his sustained superior service with I MEF while serving in hostile war environments, he was awarded the the Legion of Merit and Afghanistan Campaign Medals.
After returning to San Diego, Captain Lee continued to mentor, prepare and deploy dozens of Chaplains and Religious Program Specialists (RP), both as the I Marine Expeditionary Force Chaplain and as the Naval Special Warfare Command Chaplain. Guy’s keen sense of the “big picture”, his sharp mind, and managerial prowess proved to be the winning combination for advising his commanders and their staffs, as well as while reviewing all religious accommodation requests for deployed service members, no matter the complexity, geographical obstacles, or the time of day. In 2021, after fulfilling 29 years of faithful and honorable service to God, Country and the Corps, Captain Guy Lee retired from active duty as a military chaplain and was again awarded the Legion of Merit Medal.
In 2021, Guy was appointed as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. State Department. This diplomatic role led to assignments both in Lebanon and in London. Valuing his time with the U.S. State Department, he sought to uphold the mission and goals, while working alongside colleagues from not only his own community, but those of other organizations and countries as well. He finished his commitment with the State Department in January 2026.
As a Navy Chaplain and Foreign Service Officer, Guy will always be remembered for his calming presence and gentle spirit, as those were two of his core strengths. Ethics were also at the top of his priority list, as he sought to the do the right things in the right way. He was also loyal and gracious. He gave when no one was looking, yet he was always gracious to his friends, because God was gracious to him. Beyond his professional titles, he was a Christian mentor and freely gave of his time, wisdom and knowledge to those who needed his spiritual wisdom and experience. Guy also believed that "retiring" wasn't of interest to him. His “hobby” was to keep learning, growing and making his unique contribution to the world around him.
In February 2026, the family relocated to Texas, where he enrolled at Dallas Theological Seminary in pursuit of a Ph. D in Theological Studies, shortly before he experienced serious health complications. Although his educational pursuits ended at his passing, he showed those who knew him, even at the end of his life, what it was like to begin anew, and to keep growing as a person.
Guy loved his family. He and his wife Carol met at church in San Diego during the mid-90’s, while he was on active duty as a Navy Chaplain in Coronado, California. After marrying in 1997, they stayed active in their local church, no matter where the Navy took them. They always made it a priority to be involved in small church fellowship groups. Guy and Carol also loved to travel together and had the opportunity to visit as many as ten countries together throughout their marriage. Before leaving the State Department, Guy and Carol lived in London together for about six months, which became a special experience that drew them together.
Guy was also a devoted and proud father to his two children, Lauren and Andrew. Before Guy’s children were born, Guy and Carol regularly prayed for them, that they would be able to handle the uncertainty which he felt the coming decades in our society and world would bring. He made it a priority to attend their school events, extra curricular activities, and graduations, even though he had a busy military career to uphold.
Guy is survived by his beloved wife Carol, his children Lauren and Andrew, and his sister Joanne, along with many other cherished family members.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Youth for Christ Lebanon. Guy’s first State Dept. assignment was in Lebanon and he truly loved the country and cared about the citizens. Online:
Regarding Guy Lee’s memorial service and interment details, the family will announce these important details at a later date.
Gallery
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It was truly a privilege to have him as my student and, over time, to know him beyond the classroom. In fact, there were many moments when I felt that I was the student. His wisdom, kindness, and extraordinary ability to understand people had a quiet way of teaching those around him.
Guy was deeply committed to learning Arabic and remained persistent and curious despite the many demands of his work. That dedication said so much about him. He gave his attention fully to the things and people that mattered to him.
Over time, I was fortunate to come to know him as a friend as well. He was generous with his advice, including when I was navigating the everyday adventures of raising my son, from parenting questions to the very serious challenge of a picky eater. His guidance was always thoughtful, practical, and kind.
Above all, it was impossible not to see how devoted he was to Carol and to his children. When I later had the pleasure of meeting Carol, it was easy to understand the warmth and joy he spoke of when he talked about his family.
I can say, without any exaggeration, that Guy remains one of the people who most profoundly shaped the way I try to move through the world. He was a true example of kindness to me, and he is one of the reasons I wake up each day choosing kindness, or at least trying my best to choose it. That is one of the many ways his influence continues to live on.
I feel very lucky that our paths crossed. Guy was a wonderful human being, and I will always be grateful for what he taught me, for his friendship, and simply for having known him. He will always have a place in my heart.
You are one of the kindest and genuine souls I have ever had the privilege of meeting. Since the first day I dropped off pizza in our little trailer homes in Lebanon, I always knew you were going to be a colleague that I could trust and rely on. Your authenticity always shined through under any circumstance. Your composure and optimism were characteristics of yours that I always admired and strived to emulate. Albeit a short meeting, I am happy to have met you and experienced your radiance. I wish your family all my condolences, and I hope that they find peace in the long process of grief. May you always guide them from above and may you rest in peace.
All my love,
Hermila
Dear Guy,
I am writing to you today to tell you exactly what your friendship means to me. I also hope that Carol, Andrew, and Lauren will read these words, because I want them to see the remarkable grace that defines your life from the perspective of someone who has been profoundly changed by it.
Your character shines most brilliantly in your humility. I frequently return to the memory of my eye surgery at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda. Lying in that recovery room, my eyes bandaged in total darkness, you came to sit by my side and pray with me. We were only in the early days of our friendship then, yet you stepped into my darkness and treated me like a lifelong brother. I have often told people that it was in that visit I came to recognize you as the kindest chaplain in the corps. You are a true lighthouse for me. I have never been very good at offering encouragement or giving praise. It takes self-confidence and great security to be that generous. Watching you pursue excellence strictly for the sake of those in your care has changed me. Whatever improvements I have made as an encourager, I owe significantly to your lived example.
That deep goodness is not a passing phase; it is the very rhythm of your life. Whether we are sharing dinners in DC, exchanging prayers during your diplomatic service in Beirut, or you are thoughtfully reaching out to encourage me as I prepare for my own retirement, you remain steadfastly present. You celebrate the milestones of others even when walking your own difficult paths.
Your loyalty and dedication extend most powerfully to your family. Years ago, when we were stationed in San Diego, you gave me a book on buying a first home. Having just recently closed on my own home this spring, I am reminded of your relentless determination to provide a safe haven at every step. The tender care you extend to Carol, your children, your parents and your friends is a testament to a man who builds physical sanctuaries for those he loves.
Your devotion does not stop at the physical walls of a home. You are a man of deep spiritual intercession. So often, when we meet for a meal, our time is filled with your prayers and hopes for your children. When you speak of Andrew, I hear your deep respect for his brilliant, scientific mind, accompanied by your deep love of his tender soul. I know first hand that you give thanks for both blessings and pray God's grace on each. Your care for your family's temporal safety is only matched by your deep yearning for their everlasting peace.
The wonderful truth is that all of your goodness; your honesty, courage, and gentle love; is a reflection of a profoundly genuine goodness authored by God. It is a goodness whose central manifestation is self-sacrifice on the cross. Your life points us directly to the love, grace, and mercy of a Lord who willingly bears the worst of our misery for us, sparing us the worst consequences of our own sins.
Christ’s earthly life was terrible and painful, and our lives are blessedly less so. His ascension into heaven was inherently glorious, and while our departures from this world are visibly less so, the ultimate promise remains identical. When Jesus ascended, His disciples were heartbroken that He was hidden from their sight, just as our hearts break even at the thought of being separated from you. But we hold fast to the promise that any separation is strictly for a time. The pain of it will be entirely forgotten in the unmitigated joy of our reunion with one another; a glorious reality clearly promised in Scripture and already foreseen in the beautiful work of the Holy Ghost throughout our lives together in this world.
Thank you for being a reflection of that genuine love. I love you, my friend.
Charles V
Guy was undoubtedly one of the most intelligent Navy chaplains to serve in the Navy Chaplain Corps over the past 29 years. He paired that intelligence with genuine humility, using both to calm, guide, and support service members who needed his wisdom and counsel.
He represented his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with integrity and compassion. As a result, service members and their families were blessed by his ministry, leadership, and care. Thank you, dear brother, for paving the way and giving us an example worthy of emulation! We love the Lee Family!!
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