JULIE LEE Julie Lee, beloved longtime partner of August "Gus" Johnson, died at VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach, on July 20, 2012 following a courageous battle with cancer . In addition to Gus, she is also survived by her son , Byron Ashby and his wife , Nancy and Julie's granddaughter, Lily. The family lives in Fellsmere, FL. She was born in 1940 in Pekin , IL. As a kid she rode horses, raced cars and water skied . She won a drag race in 1956 in a corvette stingray and held a local record for skiing 17 miles on the river. Her love of the water brought her to Ft. Lauderdale in 1960's.There she was a hair stylist and raised her son Byron. She loved the sun and especially the beach. She moved to the Keys in the 1981 and spent the next 20 years there. Where she enjoyed fishing and boating , she continued her career as a hair stylist and worked at several places in Islamorada over those years. She became a friend of Bill's at the Islamorada Clubhouse on July 4th, 1998. Where she met and has kept many close friends. After retiring from a lifelong career as a hairstylist, she moved to Vero Beach in 2001 to be near her half sister Betty. It was in Vero that she met the love of her life Gus , and frequently told everyone they were the best years of her life. She also loved to knit and belonged to the Knit Sisters Club of Vero Beach, where she created wonderful one of a kind pieces of art. There are several caring women there who will remember her fondly . She was also an enthusiastic member of the South Vero Group for more than 10 years, where her quiet humility was often visible and her genuine gratitude was frequently expressed. Julie will be greatly missed in the Indian River community, at the South Vero Group, at Bill's clubhouse and the Islamorada community where she had many lifelong friends. Julie's ashes will be scattered in a private ceremony from one of her favorite spots in Islamorada. In the loving spirit of the fellowship, may she rest in peace. Paid Obituary