Dr. Robert Edward Lee
Many Attend Last Rites for Dr. Lee

While hundreds of his sorrowing friends from practically every town and city in this section of the state stood by in grief-stricken silence, eight long-time friends Sunday afternoon bore to the final resting place in Edna Cemetery the body of Dr. R. E. Lee, 62, prominent South Texas dentist, banker, ranchman, rice grower and civic leader.

The widely known Edna man died suddenly of a stroke in the Methodist Hospital in Houston at 10:30 a. m. Saturday. He became ill at his home last Thursday, and Friday was removed to Houston to be under the care of a physician who had waited upon him during a heart attack three years ago. His heart was reported strong, and the attending physician said he was suffering with a virus. However, the stroke of paralysis came suddenly Saturday morning.

Rev. Charles Hill, pastor of the Trinity Episcopal Church of Edna and Victoria, officiated and the Slavik Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers were Railroad Commissioner Olin Culberson, District Judges Howard P. Green and Frank W. Martin, State Senator John J. Bell, Bill Blanton, Earl McMillan, Cal Grey and D. O. Kilgore.

The directors of the First National Bank of which Dr. Lee was the chairman of the board and organizer, served as honorary pallbearers. The choir of the Victoria church sang and the acolytes were from the Victoria and Edna churches.

The funeral procession was one of the largest in the memory of old-timers and the profusion of flowers were reported to be the largest ever seen here. Loud speakers brought the service to the large assemblage at the church, since the small building was only large enough for the clergy the family, the pallbearers and a handful of friends.

Dr. Lee was born in Hallettsville August 14, 1890, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Lee. He went to Houston with his parents as a young boy and completed his schooling there, eventually receiving a degree in dentistry at the dental branch of the University of Texas there.

He came to Edna after graduation at the age of 19 and has resided here since. He was married to Mary Louise McHenry, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lou McHenry, of Edna on August 5, 1912.

The highly esteemed business, professional and civic leader was extremely active in his later years in projects for the betterment of Edna and Jackson County. He served as president of the Edna Chamber of Commerce for two years and then was a leader in changing over to the county-wide Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture.

It was during his administration as head of the chamber of commerce that Edna took several progressive steps that caused visitors to Edna to marvel at the city’s rapid growth. Among the additions were the new Jackson Electric Co-Op building, the new $260,000 theatre building, the new First National Bank building, a dial telephone system and a new post office building. His latest undertaking, a livestock auction ring, will open Aug. 2.

Many other citizens assisted Dr. Lee in these undertakings, to be sure, but he provided the leadership necessary to bring their fruition.

Dr. Lee organized and was chairman of the board of the First National Bank. He also was principal owner of the Lee Drug Co. and he and his son, Dr. Bud Lee, operated the Lee Dental Clinic that attracts patients from a wide area.

For many years he maintained a large Hereford herd on his ranch near here. Each year he farmed hundreds of acres of rice and cotton.

Dr. Lee was a Mason and a member of the Episcopal Church.

Survivors include his widow; a son, Dr. Bud Lee, two daughters, Mrs. Harrison Stafford and Mrs. Pete Layden, all of Edna; two brothers, Tom Lee and Clay Lee of Houston; four sisters, Mrs. Mac Barton, Mrs. Laura Sheffield, Mrs. Ada Dale and Mrs. W. A. Bernrieder, all of Houston, and six grandchildren.

Edna Herald, July 17, 1952
 

Our Town

Edna and Jackson County lost one of its best friends and greatest benefactors with the sudden death of Dr. R. E. Lee.

The tall, handsome dentist, banker, druggist, cattleman, rice farmer and civic leader was the leader or one of the leaders in many of the progressive steps taken in Edna and Jackson County in recent years. Of course, he had plenty of help from other public-spirited citizens as he worked on project after project, but Dr. Lee was the dynamo that kept the propositions moving.

Despite a critical heart attack that laid him low three years ago, and repeated warnings from his physicians and the members of his family and intimate friends, he continued active as he sought to make Edna and Jackson County the best place in the world to live.

He frequently said: "You can do anything you want to provided it is humanly possible, that you want to do it badly enough and if you work at it hard enough.” That was his creed and he lived by it.

Two weeks hence a livestock auction ring will open in this county. Dr. Lee got it for Jackson County after many tried and failed, and even after he had despaired at one time. That was perhaps his last major undertaking as he drove himself to better his city and his county.

Unfortunately, he will not be around to realize one of his fondest hopes—a modern courthouse for Jackson County. He has been working tirelessly as chairman of the courthouse committee of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, another of his projects, meeting constantly with this committee and that, as he sought to bring the people together on this movement for improvement.

Friends again urged him to slow down his rapid pace, but he brushed them aside with requests for more action on plans for a new county building.

There’ll be a new courthouse one of these days. Chairmen of the various committees, without Dr. Lee’s impetus, must work on to give to this county a handsome courthouse edifice it so badly needs and so richly deserves. And in so doing they will be paying a measure of respect to the memory of one of their fellow citizens, Dr. R. E. Lee, who fought for It so long and was cut down almost as It came within sight.

This writer hasn’t known Dr. Lee too long, but old-timers here tell us Dr. Lee busied himself for many years in providing for his growing family and getting his various business undertakings on a sound financial foundation. These important matters taken care of, he turned his limitless energies toward the betterment of his town and his county.

They tell us it was under his leadership as head of the chamber of commerce that Edna got the modern REA headquarters, dial telephone, free mall delivery, the modern theatre building, a new bank, a new highway and improvements of lesser nature.

We weren’t around for these things, as we mentioned, but in the short time we have been here we have learned that Dr. Lee got up in the morning and went to bed at night with the idea of doing something for somebody — usually for Edna and Jackson County.

Edna Herald, July 17, 1952
 

Mrs. Mary Lee

Edna—Mrs. Mary Louise McHenry Lee, 78, a native of Jackson County, died Friday morning in a Houston hospital after a brief illness. She was the widow of the late Dr. R. E. Lee, prominent Edna dentist and civic leader.

Funeral services will be held at 4:30 p. m. Saturday at the Trinity Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Rayford B. High Jr. of St. Francis Episcopal Church of Victoria officiating.

Private graveside services for the family will be held in the Edna Cemetery, under direction of the Slavik Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Dr. R. E. Lee III, Dr. McHenry Lee, Burr Stafford, Willard Ulbricht, Leonard Harwell, David Egg and Harrison Stafford II.

Mrs. Lee was born Nov. 27, in this county, daughter of the late Lou and Ruth Adkinson McHenry. Her husband preceded her in death in 1952.

Surviving are a son, Dr. R. E. (Bud) Lee of Edna, two daughters, Mrs. Harrison (Maurine) Stafford and Mrs. Pete (Ruth Delores) Layden, both of Edna; two sisters, Mrs. Lula Freund of Edna and Mrs. Dora Fuqua of Houston, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who desire may make a memorial contribution to the Dr. and Mrs. R. E. Lee Memorial Fund in Edna, or to any other charitable organization.

Victoria Advocate, June 8, 1974
 

Dr. Robert Edward “Bud” Lee Jr.
Injuries Fatal To Edna Dentist

Edna—Dr. Robert E. “Bud” Lee, 62, prominent Edna dentist and rancher and father of Dr. Robert E. Lee III of Victoria, died Saturday from injuries suffered in an accident Wednesday evening.

Dr. Lee was born Jan. 14, 1918 in Edna and married Kathreen Ruth Lee on April 21, 1940 in Temple. He served in World War II as a major in the Air Force.

Memorial services will be held at 3 p. m. Sunday at the Episcopal Church in Edna with the Rev. Don Blavier of Victoria officiating and Slavik Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Besides his son, he is survived by his wife, Kathreen Lee; another son, Dr. McHenry Lee; two sisters, Mrs. Ruth Delores Layden and Moreen Stafford; all of Edna, and four grandchildren.

In lieu of the usual remembrances, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.

Victoria Advocate, June 29, 1980

Kathryn Ruth Skelton Lee

Edna—Kathryn Ruth Skelton Lee, 74, of Edna, died Saturday, April 4, 1998.

She was born June 14, 1923, in Groom to the late Clarence Edgar and Avis Bowmer Skelton. She was a homemaker, rancher and investor. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church.

Survivors: sons, Dr. Buddy Lee of Victoria and Dr. Mac Lee of Edna; sister, Margaret Alsup of Corpus Christi; brothers, Judge Byron Skelton of Temple, Howard Skelton of Tyler and Joe Skelton of Gatesville; and five grandchildren.

Preceded in death by: husband, Dr. Robert E. Lee Jr.; and brothers, Bowmer Skelton, Bill Skelton, Max Skelton and Barnett Skelton.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a. m. Monday at Trinity Episcopal Church in Edna, the Rev. Scott Penrod officiating.

Slavik Funeral Home, Edna, 782-2152.

Memorials: donor’s choice.

Victoria Advocate, April 5, 1998