Obituary of Harry Bunting Lee ~ 2007

Transcribed by Joan S Dunn

Source: New Bern Sun Journal Dec 13 2007

Harry Bunting Lee, 100, of Route 1, Oriental, died Sunday at Craven 
Regional Medical Center. 
A native and lifelong resident of Pamlico County, he was a retired farmer. 
Though he had attended UNC Chapel Hill, graduated from Kings Business 
College in Raleigh and worked briefly as an accountant-bookkeeper, he 
chose to work outside. Known and loved by many, until recently he remained 
actively involved in his beloved Masonic Lodge, Arapahoe Rainbow, where he 
had been a brother and leader for 72 years; in his church, Arapahoe Free 
Will Baptist, where he was a frequent teacher, past deacon, respected role 
model and biblical scholar; in his community, where he shared his many 
skills, vast knowledge, advice, comfort, and delightful stories with 
several generations; and on his cherished farm where he respected his 
heavenly Father's gift of Earth and her natural elements and challenged 
them to support his family. Though he had officially retired from farming 
in his late 80s, he had continued to farm with first his tractors and then 
his lawn mowers, woodworking and gardening tools, and his green Gator. His 
farm animals became the wild birds which he housed and fed faithfully.  
Mr. Lee was the husband of the former Neva Mae Bray, with whom he had 
recently celebrated a 73rd anniversary. 
He was born Feb. 21, 1907, near Arapahoe, N.C., to Eric and Cordelia 
(Harper) Lee. He was the oldest of nine children.  In addition to his 
widow, Mr. Lee is survived by five children, Helen Lee Jones, widow of 
Robert Jones, of Oriental; Betty Lee Gilgo and husband, Jack Gilgo, of 
Route 1, Oriental; Harry Edward Lee and wife, Betty Gaskill Lee, of New 
Bern; Sarah Lee Koos and husband, William (Bill), of New Bern; and Richard 
Bryan Lee and wife, Susan, of Route 1, Oriental. He also leaves seven 
grandchildren, Wynne Gilgo Paul and husband, Clifton, of Grantsboro; Gina 
Gilgo Glass and husband, Ernie, of Charlotte; Christopher Bryan Lee and 
wife, Serena, of Route 1, Oriental; Karen Lee Brock and husband, Adam, of 
San Diego; Eric Nowak Koos and wife, Melissa, of New Bern; Harry Edward 
(Ed) Lee of Raleigh, and Allison Koos Rash and husband, Jack, of 
Charlottesville, Va. 
Surviving great-grandchildren are Cody and Taylor Paul of Grantsboro; 
Christan and Alicia Lee of Route 1, Oriental, and Ryan Koos of New Bern. 
Two sisters, Bessie Lee Parson of Route 1, Oriental, and Reba Lee Babb of 
Holly Springs, survive. He also leaves many loving nieces and nephews and 
devoted friends.  Predeceasing Mr. Lee were his son Eric Lee, brother 
Joseph Howard Lee and five sisters, Birdie Lee Salter, Bonnie Lee Lewis, 
Birma Lee Alcock, Belma Lee Taylor and Ruby Lee Smithwick.  
A celebration of Mr. Lee's life will be held in a memorial service at the 
Arapahoe Free Will Baptist Church Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007, at 11 a.m. 
Burial with Masonic Rites will follow in the Lee Family Cemetery in 
Arapahoe. Honorary pallbearers will be Eric and Ryan Koos, Christopher and 
Ed Lee, and Cody and Taylor Paul. Family will greet friends at Bryant 
Funeral Home in Alliance from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and at other times at 
the home.





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