Leroy "Lee" B. Wilson

There will be no services held for Mr. Lee Wilson, per his wishes. If desired, memorials may be made to Hospice of East Texas in Tyler, Texas, 4111 University Blvd, Tyler, TX 75701, www.hospiceofeasttexas.org. Mr. Lee Wilson passed away on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at the Hospice of East Texas Home Place. He was born July 6, 1935, in Old Fort, Tennessee to Mr. Isham Lee Wilson and Mrs. Mayme Louise Frye. Lee and his wife were members of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas. He graduated from North Texas University in 1960 with a business degree. He was a child during the great depression. Due to the poverty he endured, it motivated him to decide at a young age that he would never endure poverty like his family. Consequently, any business opportunity that came his way he would jump on. He had no fear. It did not matter if he knew little about the prospective endeavor or was told that he would fail. He just jumped in feet first and figured he would learn fast enough to make it a success. And that is what always happened. Lee was a risk taker. During his 20’s he became a scuba diver, airplane pilot, and skydiver. He started his career in Dallas, Texas buying old run-down homes in the poorer parts of town which is all he could afford. He had no construction background but he fixed them up and flipped them successfully in his 20s. Later he figured out there might be money in selling household chemicals. He sold them door-to-door for a local company and became their top salesman overnight. He then decided he could just buy and mix the chemicals himself to maximize his income. Even without a chemical background he rented a warehouse, mixed his own chemicals, and sold them very successfully. Lee then decided there might be money selling apartment buildings. He knew nothing about the multifamily industry but just jumped in. He got his real estate license, found a listing, and went to work selling apartment complexes. He decided he could make more money if he built the apartment first and then sold them, so that is what he did. The first apartment he built was right across from his old high school because one of his teachers had previously told him he would never amount to anything. After his apartment development phase, he decided to be a stock broker. He acquired all his licensing, rented an office in a bank building and proceeded to day trade stock and commodities for his clients. He became very successful in the 80s. In the 90’s Lee moved on to land development. He would create subdivisions and then either sell the lots or build on them himself under the moniker of Wilson Homes. This went on through the 90s and he was very successful developing one subdivision after another throughout the Tyler area. Next, he built storage facilities in Tyler and managed them himself. His self-storage facilities became very successful and he continued to manage them up to his death at the age of 90. One of Lee's greatest loves, besides his wife Margaret Wilson, has always been his dogs. He owned dogs since he was very small and as a young adult he would buy pedigrees. He competed at national competitions for the American Kennel Club where he earned top recognitions as a dog trainer. Mr. Lee Wilson was preceded in death by his first wife Patrica Ann Wilson. He is survived by his wife Margaret Wilson, sons Marcus Wilson, Matthew Wilson and Lance Wilson, nephew Forrest Wilson and grandchildren, Christopher Ashley, Cameron Wilson, Enya Wilson and Luke Wilson. Lee was a kind-hearted, remarkable man that will be missed dearly.

Leroy "Lee" B. Wilson

July 6, 1935 - November 26, 2025