Obituary of John Crosby Lee

Lee; John Crosby, a resident of Ridgetown and formerly R.R. #2, Highgate, died Wednesday November 3, 2010 at the Village Nursing Home, Ridgetown at the age of 90. Dear bother of the late Mary Robertson, Stella McNaughton, Emily Kay and George Lee. Special uncle to Susan Scaman (McNaughton), Chatham; Georgina Gill (Lee), California; John B. Lee, Port Dover; Elizabeth Barker (Kay), Stratford; Dorothy Kay, London; Steven Kay, London and David Kay, Edmonton, and the late Helen Gloor (Robertson). Brother-in-law of Irene Lee, Ridgetown. Also survived by several great nieces and nephews. John Crosby Lee was born at home on the family farm one mile west of the village of Highgate. The first son of locally celebrated agriculturalist, H.M. Lee and wife, Stella Lee, nee Crosby, he was the fourth generation “John” born on the land first farmed by his great-grandfather and namesake, John Lee who emigrated from Skibberrean, County Cork, Ireland in 1841. Known far and wide as a shepherd, the get of John Lee’s prize-winning Lincoln flock can look upon both oceans. The first ram was brought to the farm by John’s grandfather in 1889. John’s grandfather, John served Kent County for two terms a M.L.A. in the early 1900’s. John’s father Herb began showing at local and international fairs in the early days of the 20th century. Both John and Herb showed at the Chicago International Livestock Exposition and the Lee family showed sheep at the Royal Winter Fair every year since its inception until the sheep were sold after the last showing in November of 2000. That year John capped his career by winning Grand Champion Ram over all breeds. A high point in John Lee’s career as sheep breeder came in 1988 with the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Royal Winter Fair when he was honoured for his uninterrupted participation in the Royal. A photograph appeared in several papers showing John in a ten minute conversation with Princess Anne of the Royal House of Windsor. John served in the Royal Canadian navy in WWII, first as a signalman and semaphore specialist on HMS Mansfield, and then on HMCS Wasaga, a Bangor Class minesweeper. On D. Day, June 6th, 1944, at 2 a.m., HMCS Wasaga was in service off the coast of Normandy, France, sweeping the cold dark waters of the Atlantic for mines in advance of the invasion. After the war, John C. Lee returned to farm the family farm with his father, Herb and brother, George. Herb passed away in 1966, and his brother George died in March of 2004. John remained living on the farm which he and George’s widow Irene continued to share crop with neighbouring farmer Roger Clark. A lifelong bachelor, in addition to shepherding, Lee’s leisure activities included genealogy, stamp collecting, coin collecting and much more. An avid reader with a broad range of interests, Lee was a fascinating man. He could hold forth at length on a wide range of topics. He was a favourite amongst his nieces and nephews who would spend entertaining hours with their uncle in the den on the farm. He concealed invisible chipmunks in his cupped hands; made paper birds appear, disappear, and reappear at will; and teased their young minds with a wealth of word and number puzzles. There is a photograph taken on the farm of John as a boy. He is seated in a chair on the lawn reading a copy of “Boy’s Own Book of Knowledge”. This little boy grew into a man, admired for his knowledge of the world, and for his articulate and persuasive way of presenting what he knew for the sake of consideration by others. No single noun-veteran, shepherd, farmer, uncle, friend will suffice in describing John who took his place in the proud tradition of John’s born on the farm on the hill west of Highgate. In 1988, speaking of his experiences as a shepherd at the Royal, John said, “this is why my grandfather, my father and his brothers travelled many miles by horses and wagons to exhibit sheep in the four-county area within 20 miles of home in the late 1800 and early 1900s. My brother and myself have continued to show at the Royal since the death of my father…How much better is the country for the dedication and special kind of love that inspires hundreds of men and women who produce and show?... I don’t think it can be measured”. On November 16, 2010, John is being inducted into the Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame. A Memorial Gathering in his honour will follow at the McKinlay Funeral Home, 76 Main St.,E.,Ridgetown from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Interment of Cremated Remains in Gosnell Cemetery, Orford Township at a later date. Donations in memory of John to the Church of The Redeemer (Anglican) Highgate or Charity of Choice would be appreciated. The Family of John Lee would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Liabotis (London), Dr. Prins (Ridgetown) and the wonderful staff at the Village, Ridgetown for their exceptional care. McKinlay Funeral Home, 76 Main St.,E.,Ridgetown (519)674-3141