With a heart as courageous and spirited as a marching band on the Fourth of July, Lee “Toni” (Bess) Logan danced her way into the world on Sept. 1, 1957, in Portageville, Mo. Her generous nature, supportive attitude, and quick wit combined to form the kind of person you felt lucky to know. Standing at a mere 4-foot-10-inches, she was a proverbial drill sergeant with a sparkling sense of humor. Generously sharing her love, laughter, and wisdom with everyone (like it, or not), Lee was the heart and soul of her family, the glue that held them all together. She passed away at Mercy Hospital Joplin on Jan. 23, 2025, with her son by her side.

Lee’s zest for life extended beyond the confines of her loving home in Webb City, where she resided for 35 years. She dedicated 29 years of her life as a dispatcher, most recently for Triple AAA Taxi in Joplin, before hanging up her headset in 2017. But it was her hobbies that showcased the depth of her creativity and passion. A lover of painting, reading, and sewing, Lee was also a violinist, her music filling the air with the kind of magic you could only find in heartfelt melodies. She previously attended Emmanuel Baptist Church in Webb City. Her faith was as beautiful and unwavering as her love for the famous “Footprints in the Sand” poem.

Lee married Brent Logan on June 6, 1988, in Miami, Okla.

She is survived by her daughters, Adria (Justin) Trombley, Rogers, Ark., and Latosha, Durant, Okla.; her son, Shane (Latisha “Tish”) Logan, Webb City; grandchildren, Jackson Trombley, Aubry, Launa and Rylan Logan, and Lizann Lalley; and her sister, Rayla (Jim) Kanakis, Joplin. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lee and Margaret Bess.

A celebration of Lee’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at Simpson Funeral Home, following visitation, beginning at noon.