LEE, Anthony “Tony”

ANTHONY “TONY” LEE 1941 – 2023 Mr. Anthony “Tony” Lee, of Lethbridge, beloved husband of Mrs. Luella Lee, passed away at Chinook Regional Hospital on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at the age of 81 years.
Tony was born in Nanaimo, BC on July 22, 1941, to Edward and Hilda Lee, who later welcomed daughter Shirley and raised their family in Duncan, BC. True to form, Tony’s work ethic came at a very young age with an early morning paper route. As a teen he worked at Windiere Garden Farm as a fruit and vegetable picker. He often joked that he ate more than he picked and thus his love of fresh farm produce was born. In high school he worked at Powel’s Men’s Wear. He loved both jobs and spoke of them often.
In school Tony excelled at baseball and basketball. At 6’6″ it is hard to imagine he was the second shortest player on the team. He loved CFL football, ‘his team’ of course was the BC Lions. Not being a player, Tony found another way to support the sport and was an active field official for both CFL and high school games.
To further his education, Tony enrolled in Drafting at SAIT in Calgary Alberta. While attending school, he met Luella, the love of his life and future wife of 58 years who he married in October 1964. They welcomed their first daughter Susan in September 1965, and their second daughter Kathy in October 1966. Within a year the family moved to Lethbridge, where Tony opened a second location of MHL where he was one of three partners. After five years they moved back to Calgary, then in 1977 made the final move back to Lethbridge, where he lived out the balance of a very fulfilled life.
Tony, always ambitious, ventured into new business ownership with LJ Mechanical (later DMT), a commercial mechanical contracting business. There are buildings throughout Southern Alberta that will bear his legacy for decades to come. Tony served as the President of the Lethbridge Construction Association in 1981 and received recognition at their sixtieth anniversary in 2014.
Tony’s love of trains developed at a very young age. His father Eddie worked as a train conductor on the Vancouver Island Dayliner after returning from WWII. Hilda, Shirley and Tony would always wave through the large picture window as Dad flew by on the train and Eddie always waved back energetically finishing with a blown kiss. He had a longstanding interest in Model Railroading and was one of the founding members of the Southern Alberta Model Railway Club. He was very involved in growing the club to what it is today with a dedicated clubhouse in Gyro Park.
Tony was a gentle man, continually thinking of others and wanting to make the world a better place. He was always the first to volunteer assistance and support to those he cared for and had an enormous number of lifelong friends.
Tony and Luella were avid world travelers, enjoying vacations to the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and countless tropical destinations.
Tony is survived by his loving wife Luella; daughters Susan (Kelly) and Kathy; grandson Bryce; sister Shirley (Al); sister-in-law Brenda; nephews Mike (Carolina), Jeff (Rachelle), David (Ivy), Glen (Miranda) and several great nephews and nieces.
He was pre-deceased by his parents (Eddie, Hilda); grandsons (Jesse, Payton); son-in-law Grant; and in-laws (Walter, Lydia).
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am, on Friday, April 21, 2023, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610, 4 STREET SOUTH, Lethbridge, Alberta with Reverend Trevor Potter, officiating. To watch the service via livestream, please go to https://www.mbfunerals.com/obituary/AnthonyTony-Lee-1.
Because of allergies the family gratefully declines flowers. Those who wish may make a memorial donation to the Lethbridge Food Bank https://lethbridgefoodbank.ca/
Visit www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.