Lee (Leona) Brayton, 72, of Melbourne, Fl, passed away Friday, September 18 at Wuesthoff Hospice Home, in Rockledge, FL. Born October 12, 1942, she was the daughter of the late William Charles Brayton and Caroline (Richter) Brayton.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Jeffrey Vidas. She is survived by her sister, Joann Jacobs; her sons, Adam and his wife Rachel; Christopher and his wife Kelly; step daughter Kris Vidas and grandchildren Marin, Will, Matthew, Ryan and Rhiannon.

Lee graduated from Towson High School in 1960, and from Tobe-Coburn in New York City in 1962. She received a Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude in 1974 from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. She was a recipient of the Educational Achievement Award of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois in 1975. She got her Masters of Science in Education from Northern Illinois University in 1981.

She ran for Wheaton, Illinois City Council in 1975 and the Illinois State Senate in 1976. During her life, she was a supporter of education and women’s causes, and was associated with both League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women for most of her life.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Lee worked in both the Chicago and Los Angeles areas as a teacher, urban planner, and in the early 1990s served as a management consultant for Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which led the construction of the Los Angeles subway system in 1993.

During this time and after, Lee and her late husband Jeff, spent much of their time together working in real estate and home restoration, which she continued after his death. Lee enjoyed traveling in her retirement, taking cruises to and throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii and Asia.

Donations can be made to the Brayton Jacobs scholarship fund at Arcadia University, 450 S. Easton Road, Glenside, PA 19038.

A service honoring Lee will be held on Sunday, October 4. Arrangements are by Island Cremations and Funeral Home, of Merritt Island, Fl.