Phillip D. Lee

Phillip D. Lee, Mechanic

CASTORLAND – Phillip D. Lee, 80, formerly of State Route 410, passed away early Wednesday morning, September 13, 2017 at Samaritan Keep Home, Watertown, after a battle with Lewy Body Dementia.

Phil was born May 6, 1937 in Watertown, NY, to F. Douglas and Alexandria “Peggy” Demianenko Lee of Rodman, NY. After a primary education in the one-room schoolhouse in Rodman, NY he attended Adams Center Central School.  Following high school he traveled to the Dakotas.  

He then joined the US Navy and served from 1955 to 1959 aboard the tender ship USS Tutuila, which made occasional calls at Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Havana, Cuba, and Guantanamo Bay.  After discharge from the Navy he worked on his parent’s farm, was a car salesman, and was an office machine repairman.

He married Lucretia Stevens on September 11, 1964 at the United Church of Richville in Richville, NY with Rev. Graham Hodges officiating.

Phil was employed at Beaverite Inc. in Croghan, NY as a tool and die maker, and at Kraft Foods in Lowville, NY as a line mechanic.  

In 1971 Phil left Kraft Foods to establish Phil’s Small Engine Shop on Route 126 in Carthage, NY.  He repaired all types of small engines, however his special interests were tuning motorcycles and snowmobiles, or designing and building unique vehicles for sale or competition.  He raced motocross, snowmobiles and cars for pleasure, and did so well into his mature years. His many other interests were sharing stories and laughs with friends and family, as well as dancing, hunting, reading and rehabilitating hurt or stray animals.

Besides his wife of 53 years he is survived by a sister, Ethel Mae Ingalls, Ludlow, KY; a brother, Paul, Watertown, NY; a sister and brother-in-law, Martha (Robert) Wallace, Lamoille, NV; two daughters, Yvonne (Michael) Brown, Watertown NY; Deborah, Castorland, NY; a son, Scott, address unknown; a granddaughter, Bethany Archer, Rochester, NY; an uncle, M. Russell (Marion) Lee, Dexter, NY; an aunt, Ida Jean Schroy, Virginia Beach, VA; a sister-in-law, Brenda Woodward, Richville, NY and Auburndale, FL; two step grandchildren, Brian Brown and Tiffany Brown of Decatur TX; two step great grandchildren, Arian and Kalea Foster, Decatur, TX; and six nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his parents, a sister, Sally Sugrue, and an aunt, Dora Gibbs, who passed away the same day he did.

Calling hours are Wednesday September 27, 2017 from 3-5 PM and 7-9 PM at Iseneker Funeral Home, 5702 Waters Road, Lowville, NY.  A funeral service will be held Thursday September 28, 2017 at 10 am at the funeral home.  Interment will immediately follow at the Castorland Union Cemetery, Church Street, Castorland. A luncheon will follow at The Beaver Valley United Methodist Church, Naumburg Lane, Naumburg, NY.

The family would like to express its sincere appreciation to the staff of the Samaritan Keep Home for the compassionate care they provided to Phil.

In lieu of flowers the family would suggest memorial donations to The Lewy Body Dementia Association, Inc., 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, GA, 30047 or LBDA.org.

Condolences may be made online at www.isenekerfuneralhome.com.

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