ERIC JAMES LEE

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ERIC JAMES LEE Eric James Lee, son of Thomas and Florence (Butler) Lee, passed away peacefully at his home at the Colonel Belcher Care Center in Calgary on November 4, 2005. Dad was born in Carberry, MB on March 8, 1920. He attended school in Carberry and won the Governor-General's Medal in Grade 12. He then joined the RCAF and served in various locations across Canada. After completing his studies in the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Manitoba, he returned home to Carberry to begin a long career as a pharmacist. In 1951 he married Thelma Coutts of Winnipeg. Together they raised four children and were active in the life of the community. After retiring Dad frequently filled-in for pharmacists in the area and enjoyed himself by sightseeing with Mom in Canada and abroad and visiting with family and friends. When Mom became stricken with cancer, Dad dedicated himself to caring for her. When it was no longer possible for Dad to live on his own in Carberry, he moved to Calgary to be close to his children. In his twilight years Dad struggled with Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease. A new medication brought our dad back to us for his last six months and allowed him to enjoy many memorable and pleasant times with us and caregivers. Eric loved his work as a pharmacist in Carberry and in building relationships with his fellow citizens. He was active in the Elks, the Legion, the Chamber of Commerce, the Golf Club, the Friends of Spruce Woods, the Recreation Center and the Ernest Thompson Seton Center. He was also active in St. Agnes Anglican Church and frequently served as a member of the vestry, Sunday School teacher, lay reader and in any other way he could be of service. As a young man, Dad was an accomplished tennis and hockey player. Later he became an accomplished bowler and outdoor enthusiast who loved all activities that brought him close to Mother Nature. He never tired of exploring the beauty of the Carberry area and had a great love for the people of Carberry, his family and children. As his children, we will fondly remember the happy times we shared with him on the beaches of Delta, the trails of the Spirit Sands, the slopes of the Rocky Mountains and in our many family gatherings. Dad was a kind, compassionate and gentle man with a wonderful sense of humour. He was involved with a host of charitable organizations and enjoyed being of service to young and old. Many will remember him for the little things he did to make life better for others, his humility and his abiding love of nature. Others will remember him for the great delight he took in playing with children and in organizing events for children. Dad was predeceased by his wife Thelma, his sisters Winnie and Edna, and his brothers Bob (Florence) and Harry (Winnie). Dad will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his children Debbie (Peg), Nancy (Jeff), David, and Don (Danping), his sister Dorothy (Lorne), his brother-in-law Percy and by many others whose lives he touched. He will also be dearly missed by his grandchildren Tammy (Craig), Nina (Ian), Nicole, Eva, and little Eric and his great-grandchildren Emma and Ian. A memorial service to celebrate Eric's life will be held in St. Agnes Anglican Church in Carberry on Thursday, November 10 at 2:00 p.m. with a reception to follow at the United Church Hall across the street. Those who wish to make a donation are asked to donate to the Eric and Thelma Lee Memorial Fund, Box 807, Carberry, MB R0K 0H0. Those who would like to bring flowers or make a dried floral arrangement from local plants to place in the church are asked to see Gene Kramarchuk before the service. For those who cannot attend the service in Carberry, a group memorial service will be held for Eric and fellow veterans at the Colonel Belcher Care Home in Calgary on November 30 at 2:00 p.m. Thank-you to all the wonderful caregivers who served Dad with respect and who helped bring out the best in him. PERSONAL ALTERNATIVE FUNERAL SERVICES, Calgary, AB 1-888-216-5111

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 09, 2005