Howard LeRoy "Lee" Hemmings, 91, of Monongahela, died Monday, June 8, 2026 in Jefferson Hospital. He was born March 8, 1935 in Carroll Township, a son of John William and Mary Elizabeth Herrington Hemmings, Sr.

Lee was employed at Combustion Engineering in East Monongahela for a short period of time. He was then employed as a truck driver for many businesses including Al Zeffiro Transfer Storage, Mon Valley Pepsi Cola in Donora, and Davis Industries in New Eagle. For several years, he was the shop foreman at Stag Construction in Rostraver and retired from Morgan Excavating in Webster.

Lee attended Journey By Grace Church in Rostraver Township. He was a peacetime veteran having served in the US Army. His memberships include the Carroll Legion James C. Ford Post 949, VFW Sutman Yohe Post 1409, Mon Valley Veterans Council and the Mon Valley Honor Guard and Firing Squad, where he was a past commander. He was also a former member and past Exalted Ruler of the B.P.O. Elks Lodge #445 in Monongahela.

A lot of his friends referred to him as the "mayor" because if there was anything that you needed done, or anything that you needed to know, he was able and willing to do it. Lee enjoyed attending the Ringgold High School football games to watch his grandsons play. In later years, he enjoyed watching and hearing about his great grandchildren's activities. When he wasn't busy, Lee enjoyed watching the Steelers and golf.

He is survived by his daughter, Penny Lee McAuliffe, with whom he made his home; two grandsons, Brandon C. McAuliffe and wife, Jen Sasko, and Benjamin P. McAuliffe and Casey Shunk; six great grandchildren, Brantley, Leo, Kensington, Callyn, Elijah, and Bennett McAuliffe; two sisters, Carol Lee of Florida, Donna (John) Pocky of Charleroi; numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters, Ruth Ann MacDougall, Mary "Peg" Pohts, Shirley Mae Seighman, Alice Ingram; and seven brothers, John, Thomas "David", Herbert, Harold "Boots", Donald, George "Hambone", Richard "Skip", Paul, and Robbie Lynn Hemmings.

Friends will be received on Monday, June 15, 2026 from 2-6 PM in the Frye Funeral Home, Inc., 427 West Main Street, Monongahela, where a funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 11:00 AM with the Rev. William Bailey officiating. Full military honors will be accorded by the Mon Valley Honor Guard and Firing Squad. Interment will be private in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mon Valley Honor Guard and Firing Squad, c/o Frye Funeral Home Inc., 427 W. Main Street, Monongahela, PA 15063.

The Mon Valley Honor Guard and Firing Squad will conduct a memorial tribute for Lee on Monday at 2:30 PM in the funeral home.