Leeland Gilbert Devorse

Leeland Gilbert DeVorse peacefully entered the loving arms of Jesus on January 10, 2024 with family by his side. Lee was born on February 5, 1937 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Fred DeVorse and Irene (Briqulet) DeVorse. Growing up during the heart of the depression he and his twin brother Lyle spent their early years at the Milwaukee County Home for Dependent Children in Wauwatosa. At the home he had plenty of good food to eat (three meals a day) and the opportunity to learn and play sports from an early age. Lee fondly remembered Saturdays in the Fall seated with many of the boys listening to Notre Dame Football on the radio. He remained a loyal Notre Dame fan for the rest of his life. At 14 he left for Green Bay to attend East High School. Lee enjoyed sports and lettered in baseball, basketball and football. His prowess at baseball resulted in an invitation to open tryouts with the Milwaukee Braves during his Senior year. Based on his performance at the the tryouts a letter sent from the Braves inviting him to camp in Florida failed to reach him before he left to pursue a different career path. After graduating Green Bay East High in 1955, he and his twin brother enlisted in the United States Marine Corp and headed to Camp Pendleton in Southern California. While in the marines he had the opportunity to play on the Camp baseball team and during his off-duty time go to the beach and to the racetrack. After leaving the marines he used his GI Benefits to attend Radio Broadcasting School and also train as a massage therapist. He was soon on the airwaves of several High Desert radio stations using the name "Lee Dorsey". When awarding gift certificates to callers who won contests on the air, he often exclaimed "winner, winner, chicken dinner!". Lee was so easy going and friendly that he was able to coax many Hollywood celebrities to visit the studio and be interviewed on the air. He also announced various high school football games on the radio in the Joshua Tree area. During his time in California, Lee met Cecile Gremillion through a Los Angles dating service and they were married in 1967. Over the next 6 years they were blessed with four children (a son and three daughters). As the family expanded and his career continued to grow, Lee moved to Wisconsin, Florida and then to Las Vegas. He worked in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in radio and also plied his talent at the Playboy Club as the exclusive masseur for the Playboy bunnies at the Club. Next came Sarasota, Florida and time running various spas at several resorts. Finally came a move to the suburbs of Las Vegas to the sleepy little (at the time) town of Henderson . Lee signed on to put together and opened the spa at Circus Circus. After that he moved to Bally's to open their spa and managed it for nearly fifteen years until he retired. He massaged a who's who list of celebrities and famous athletes from around the world. When he retired, Lee enjoyed going to the race track at Del Mar and Santa Anita in California or sitting at the sports books at various Station Casino properties. With his Braves cap on his head and a smile on his face he was frequently mistaken for Bobby Cox, the former manager of the Atlanta Braves. It normally took quite a bit bit of convincing and Lee would finally show his ID to prove he was not Bobby Cox. He shared his stories of hitting home runs off of Braves pitchers during his tryout and his lifelong enjoyment of baseball. The person walked away having made a friend with Lee and both parties sharing baseball facts and stories. Lee is survived by three daughters: Diane (Tom) Peterson, Bernadette (Jeff) Braucher, Christine Patterson and one son: Lee (Jennie) DeVorse. 8 grandchildren (Carlos Jr, Emily, Jacques, Grace, Christine, Aimee, Elizabeth and Delaney) and 2 great grandchildren (Lucien and Rushton). He was preceded in death by his father and mother, brothers: Lyle (his twin), Earl, Wayne, Orville, and Fred DeVorse Jr. Sisters: Dorothy Hill, Charlotte Kosbab, Beverly DeVorse, and Connie Haines.

Leeland Gilbert Devorse

February 5, 1937 - January 10, 2024