Obituary of Lee Herndon

Lee A. Herndon, 72, of Land O Lakes, FL, passed away on September 17, 2023. Lee was born on February 27, 1951, in Gary, Indiana. He was a kind man with a heart of gold, known for his intelligence, sense of humor, and ever-present smile. Lee spent his career in finance, specializing in contracts, customer service, and collections. He held the position of Vice President, Collection/Customer Service at Bankers Leasing from 1993 to 2003, and again at Byline Financial Group until his retirement in April of 2020.

While Lee excelled in his professional life, his true passion lay in building things. He loved to remodel and spent many hours constructing decks, bars, basements, and even a three-level treehouse for his beloved grandchildren, complete with a climbing wall, swings, and two slides. Lee cherished his family and friends, and enjoyed spending quality time with his wife, children and grandchildren. He had a zest for life and was an avid traveler, particularly enjoying cruises. Lee was also a devoted parrot head, attending many tailgates and concerts. He loved to shoot pool, sing karaoke, dance, and was known for throwing unforgettable parties.

Lee is survived by his wife Susan (Buss) Herndon, and by his daughter, Lori Hornecker, her husband Tom Hornecker, and granddaughters Natalie Hornecker and Olivia Hornecker. He is also survived by his son, Joseph Herndon, his wife Kristin Herndon, and grandchildren Brianna Herndon and William Herndon. Additionally, Lee is survived by his stepson, Kristopher Yates, and granddaughter Evelyn Yates. He is also survived by his sister, Regina Fedorchak, and brother, Tymon (Ted) Herndon. Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Walberta Herndon.

Lee graduated from Purdue University with a BA in Accounting-Business Management. He was a proud Boilermaker and valued his education dearly.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Illinois on Saturday, October 21, 2023, to honor Lee's memory. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Association, a cause close to Lee's heart.

Lee will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. His memory will forever live on in the hearts of his loved ones and friends.