Lee Blackmon passed away on December 18, 2023. Born on February 19, 1968 in Newport Beach, California, Lee moved to Nehalem, Oregon in 2011, where he founded Animal Haven by the Sea. A real life hero to many, Lee facilitated the care for countless animals on the north Oregon coast.
His heart was so big, Lee never said ‘no’ when someone asked him for help. Animals that had never seen a veterinarian before were able to get needed care due to Lee’s generosity. He took in animals that had been cast off by others, mostly due to behavioral problems. Many of his resident dogs were rescued from kill shelters. With help from the volunteers at the Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church, Lee kept the pet food bank in stock to make sure that no animal in our community went hungry.
Lee had a profound ability to connect with everyone he met. If he ever saw anyone going without, Lee would do everything in his power to help them. He provided new shoes for kids going back to school, meals and tents for people living on the streets and jobs for people who were struggling to pay their bills.
Lee turned his lifelong passion for soccer into another avenue to give back. He coached youth soccer and made sure that there were no financial constraints to sign up for his team, going so far to provide cleats and pads for kids whose parents couldn’t afford them.
It is difficult to estimate exactly how great of an impact he had on our community. Only now that he’s gone will we recognize everything he did for us. It’s now up to us to embody Lee’s spirit and give back to others.
Lee is survived by his parents, Roy and Marty; his sister, Amy; his wife, Malia; his three step children; and his numerous fur babies.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Animal Haven by the Sea (www.animalhavenbythesea.org) in order to continue Lee’s legacy. Donations can be left at Nehalem Animal Healing, the Nehalem Bay Methodist Church, First Security Bank in Manzanita and the Lighthouse Pub in Nehalem.