Lee Hawse Patteson was the wife of former Governor of West Virginia Okey L. Patteson

Okey L. Patteson

Okey Leonidas Patteson was born in Mingo County, West Virginia. He was the 23rd Governor of West Virginia for the term following the 1948 election...

 and served as that state's First Lady

First Lady

First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...

, 1949-1953. She was born May 28, 1902 at Romney, West Virginia

Romney, West Virginia

Romney is a city in and the county seat of Hampshire County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,940 at the 2000 census, while the area covered by the city's ZIP code had a population of 5,873. It is a city with a very historic background dating back to the 18th century...

. She married Okey L. Patteson

Okey L. Patteson

Okey Leonidas Patteson was born in Mingo County, West Virginia. He was the 23rd Governor of West Virginia for the term following the 1948 election...

 in 1923. As first lady, she entertained guests and began the tradition of decorating the trees around the West Virginia Governor's Mansion

West Virginia Governor's Mansion

The West Virginia Governor's Mansion is a historic residence located next to the Kanawha River in Charleston, West Virginia and is the official residence of the Governor of West Virginia....

 for the holidays. She also obtained a pilot's license

Pilot licensing and certification

Pilot licensing or certification refers to permits to fly aircraft that are issued by the National Aviation Authority in each country, establishing that the holder has met a specific set of knowledge and experience requirements. This includes taking a flying test. The certified pilot can then...

 while serving as first lady. She died in Mt. Hope, West Virginia on August 2, 1955.