Mary Lee Wooters was born on October 24, 1924, in Centralia, Illinois, to Louis Ellis Wooters, a barber, and Lela Myrtle Telford. She had three sisters: Vera Mae, Dorris Lucille, and Norma Jean. Mary completed her eighth-grade education at Lincoln Elementary School in 1938. After the death of her sister Dorris Lucille, the family relocated to Ottawa, Illinois, where her father continued his work as a barber.
In 1939, the family moved to Los Angeles, California. There, Mary enrolled in Mar-Ken School, a private academy that catered to young performers. She graduated in 1942, a pivotal period marking the start of her professional career in entertainment.
Mary Lee began singing at the age of six and often practiced with her older sister, Vera Mae, who was already performing at local events in LaSalle County, Illinois. Alongside her sisters, Mary performed at various community functions, gaining early performance experience.
Her professional break came in 1938 when she was discovered by the Ted Weems Orchestra. Accompanied by her mother and sister, Mary toured with the orchestra for four months. During this time, she credited her mother and Vera Mae as her biggest mentors. While with the Weems group, she recorded several tracks, including a duet with Elmo Tanner titled "Back to Smokey Mountain" in 1939.
In 1942, Mary Lee furthered her musical career by recording eight songs with Bob Crosby’s Bob Cats, showcasing her range in swing and jazz-influenced vocal performances. A retrospective compilation released in 1998 featured her songs from Gene Autry films, such as "Sing a Song of Laughter" from Riding on a Rainbow (1941) and "Give Out with a Song" from Gaucho Serenade (1940).
| Birth Date: | 24 Oct, 1924 |
| Age: | 95 yrs |
| Occupations: | Actor Film actor |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Centralia |
| Gender: | Female |
| Description: | 1924-1996 American actress |
| Net Worth 2021: | 500 thousand |
