The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-07-17
Death of J. M. Lee
Great Loss To
KiSSimmee

death claimed Hon. John Martin Lee,
zone of Kissimmee's Oldest and most
distinguished citizens. He had beer
confined to local sanitarium for the
past three weeks by i'll health. Mr..
Lee was So years old and was born in
Fulton County, Georgia, and moved
TO Osceola then part OF Orange
county, when he was thirty-five years
of age The deceased is. survived BY
! his wife. five daughters, Mrs. Roy L.
Starbird, and Mrs. Walter Coble OF
Orlando; Mrs. Malcolm Waring, o.
Lakeland Mrs, Zeb Parker, of Area
dia, and Miss Margaret Lee and son,
John NJ. Lee, Jr., of Kissimmee.
The funeral will be conducted in
Kissimmee this afternoon at five
O'Clock. Undertaken Carey Hand, OF
this city, having charge of the ar
arrangements.
Mr.. Lee was chairman of the Board
lof Stewards of the kissimmee Meth
odist church. This afternoon the en-
tire Board, consisting of Messrs D. G..
Wagner, E. L. Lesley, Lewis O'Bryan,
u. McPhatter. w c. Bass, c. w. Crit
fin. Geo. ". Person. B. D. Boone, R..
VI Evans. and W B. Harris came to
Orlando to escort the body back to
Kissimmee.
There are many readers of the Re-
PORTER Star who will genuinely mourn
the passing OF John NJ. Lee. He was
enc of the most prominent and veal
thiest men in South Florida and was
la truly remarkable man in many re-
spects He had the distinction of be
ling clerk of the circuit court of his
: home county for twenty-one wears
He was concerned in all kinds of en-
,terprises had wide reputation for
charity. and none excelled him in pop.
ularity, due in a large measure to
his uniform courtesy Mr.. Lee was a
! devout member of the Methods
church and Mason.
His was life of usefulness and SER
vice to his fellow men. He knew the
full meaning of friendship 1t is said
. of him and truly that he would
sacrifice everything he possessed rath-
Ter than desert a friend or go back on
his word His loyalty and devotion
} to the higher ideals and principles o.
life were an inspiration to those who
: came in contact with him.
Possessed of high mental attain
ments and magnetic personality, he
was tower of strength to the Demo
cratic party with which he was con
spicuously identified for so many
Years. He loved politics and he gave
much of his life to It, but only be-
cause he saw that through this means
definite progress toward the welfare
Iof his fellows could be gained.
Though great political powers could
have been his, political activities were
always conducted on a high plane
There never was a breath Of scandal
raised against him His hands have
lever been clean. He was clean man,
the very soul of honor.
: In the business world his success
was as marked as in the political
arena. and for the same reasons
. Orange county has lost good friend
as we'll as the whole of South Flor.
: ida. Mr.. Lee was one of the largest
citrus fruit growers and cattlemeH
OF this section of the State. We can.
: not hope to give adequate expression
. Ito the sympathy that will go out from
n many households to Mr. Lees fam
{ lily in their sorrow. His mortal re
!. mains will rest beneath the sod no
@ far from the home in which his fond
y est ties conferred but his memory vii
;. abide. to be cherished by us Away
i as a benediction and an inspiration.
i, In speaking of the death of Mr.
J. Lee, Rev. J, R. Cason, pastor Of tn
n Methodist church. of this city, VIII
IL was intimately acquainted with the de
= ceased said: "In my estimate OF Mr.
) John NJ Lee, no citizen of Kissimme
represented more in the development
Of all that was best in that enterpris
N ing city. From every viewpoint h
D measured up to the highest standar
I'd OF excellence. Orlando Reporter
Star.