LEE; Brian Douglas ~ Date of Birth March 14, 1950 ~ On Sunday September 6, 2020 an exceptional man died. After both a retirement and life that were shortened by lewy body dementia. He closed those beautiful blue eyes for the last time. He was the best husband, father, popa, brother, son, uncle, nephew, cousin, friend, mentor, my soulmate and my hero. Such a vibrant man. He was our protector and provider. He was our glue that kept the family together. He is gone and we are reeling but he lives on as we model his warmth, strength, generosity and his black humour and his love of family. He is irreplaceable. Brian is survived by his loving wife Dianne (Wilson) of 48 years and two sons, Christopher of Cobourg and Michael of Cobourg (Kim) and two daughters Cara of Montreal (Jean) and Carrie of Baltimore (Todd), two granddaughters Ryleigh and Sophia who Brian loved and spending time with and grandson Jessie. Predeceased by his father Raymond (1986) and his mother Muriel (1994), his brother Glenn and sisters Sharon (John) and Diana. Brian is survived by his sister Valerie of Colborne and brother Kevin of Baltimore and Robert of Baltimore (Candy). Brian is survived by his auntie Helen (The leader of the pack) of Toronto, Aunt Judy and uncle Art of Calgary and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Brian was born in Regina Saskatchewan at Grey Nuns Hospital. He moved often as his dad was in the army and had postings to Brandon Manitoba, Whitehorse Yukon, Cobourg Ontario, Montreal Quebec and back to Cobourg when his dad retired. Brian made friends easily and was a very loyal, fun loving, adventurous character. He had life long friends who he cherished and kept in touch with over the years. Brian always had a love of classic cars and owned several Chevy Impalas his favourite was his last one, his Pontiac GTO. He also owned many motorcycles over the years his last one was a Harley Davidson trike and he drove into his sixties. He did many bike trips with friends and family to Kingston, Laconia New Hampshire and Friday the 13th to Port Dover, Saranac Lake and through New York State and many spontaneous day trips were really enjoyed. Brian had a love of sports and enjoyed skiing, hockey, golf and baseball. Brian sponsored our ball team « Elgin Variety » and enjoyed our weekly games, tournaments and made many friends, there were a lot of special activities that he was involved in. Brian was their coach for a few years. Reading was another of Brian’s passions anything to do with sports or financial kept his interest. He had an amazing memory for sport trivia, remembering players and dates. His favourite hockey team was the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Toronto Blue Jays for baseball. He worked at General Foods/Kraft for 40 years. He started as a factory worker. He later went to school and worked hard and after four years earned his trade as an Industrial Mechanic Millwright in 1990. He enjoyed this profession very much. His last position that he held was Maintenance Auditor for Cereal and Rice Department until 2008 when the plant was closed. He worked on and helped design a computer program for their lockout system. Brian travelled to Minnesota to research their candy line which was brought and implemented to the Cobourg plant. Brian was involved in many of their social functions, the annual ball tournaments, attending many of their dances, bus trips to Blue Jay games, ski trips and the ball tournaments in Montreal. Lots of fun. Brian was a member of their Quarter Century Club. Every five years he got to choose a gift. He would pick something for others. He would say what would I do with a gold watch. He would never miss these special dinners. We always enjoyed watching the kids sports, baseball, soccer, hockey, golf. Brian coached many of their hockey teams. Playing golf was a highlight when he played with his sons. He also enjoyed playing in the Cornwall hockey tournaments. The highlight was watching Brian play on the same team as his sons. He loved that. We also did many ski holidays to Owl’s Head in the Eastern Townships, out to Calgary in 1988 on Christmas day with the boys. We skiied Banff, Sunshine and Lake Louise and Mount Norquay. There were also trips to Collingwood, Blue Mountain, St Louis Moonstone, and Hidden Valley. Brian also enjoyed going on golf trips with his buddies to Ocean City Maryland and Myrtle Beach. Brian was full of surprises. One day in 1986 he said guess what I want to buy. Turns out it was the old Jim’s Music store that he would visit as a child. He thought it would give us something to do and be a job for his mother. We had it for seven years and turns out it’s still there now 33 years later. He always wanted to build a house on a golf course. He did build a home at Dalewood on the first hole in 1986. There were trips to Florida for one month when the company had their shut down in 1980 and another family trip there in 1995. There were road trips to Montreal, Cooperstown New York and Washington DC in 1986 and family golf trip to Myrtle Beach. We travelled often after the kids left the nest. There was 2011 Mediterranean cruise and saw Italy, Greece, Croatia, Turkey. Another to Norway in 2013. It was on Brian’s bucket list as his grandmother was from Bergen Norway and a week prior to London England. There was a ferry trip in 1999 doing the inside passage also visiting Vancouver Island, White Rock BC, Calgary Alberta, Regina Saskatchewan, Whitehorse Yukon, Skagway Alaska leaving from Bellingham Washington. We were gone for one month. We stayed and visited family and friends along the way. In the 2000’s we spent summers visiting each province in the Maritimes, and covered every one except Labrador and Gaspe. Every January Brian would look for a deal to somewhere warm. We travelled to St Kitts, Dominican Republic, Punta Canta, Cuba, Jamicia and St Martin being our favourite island. Our last trip there we shared with my sister and her husband. Brian enjoyed showing them the sites. Brian was a fantastic cook and loved to bar b que and he was very happy to entertain family and friends. He would tell me get out of my kitchen when he was cooking. Our house was always opened to friends and family on Christmas eve, he loved this. His favourite saying was « Life is Good » and yes it sure was. When he retired he also enjoyed spending time with friend’s playing cards at Kelly’s hotel and getting caught up with the latest gossip. Brian did not like to have the spot light on himself. If there was something to be done he would just do it. Brian would also be there for his family if there was a need. He felt he had to be the father figure after his parents passed. He would also give you his opinion, whether you wanted to hear it or not. Sometimes good or bad. Family was his pride and joy and we all know how blessed we were to have him in our lives. Brian supported his parents and also mine through their final challenges. Brian was also there for me during my health issues in 2014, every step of the way. He was my rock. Our family could not have made it through this ordeal without the tremendous support of Danielle and Denyse of the PKLNH Alzheimer’s Society and Dianne’s support group. The caring staff of Streamway Villa in Cobourg especially in Brian’s last days, we can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for Brian and our family. You are all angels. To our wonderful friends and family and neighbours. We thank you on Brian’s behalf. A big thank you to Dianne’s three dear friends, Lynn Ramsay, Paulette Mercier, Penny Stewart who were always there with their love and support. Thank you to Auntie Helen, cousins Deb, Lana, and Donna for their lunch visits to the home. Your visits were a great comfort to both of us. Thank you to Aunt Judy and Uncle Art of Calgary for your visit and lunch date at the home and for your love and support. Thank you to my dear friend Linda Temple for your support, our talks your empathy and visits and treats with Brian he always knew you. And also for the many checking in phone calls. Thanks to our granddaughter, Sophia for her many visits to popa with her daddy and Gizmo. Popa loved you so much. Thanks also to Tyr for you many visits to popa with your nanie and mommy. Brian would light up when he saw you.
2020
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Brian Douglas Lee 2020..
Décès pour la Ville:Millbrook, Province: Ontario