Obituary of Lee Armstrong

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved John Richard Lee Armstrong, simply known to most as Lee.

Lee’s journey started in Burnaby BC on November 17th, 1952, when he came into this world as the son of Violet and Richard Armstrong along with his bother Terry and sister Myra.

Lee’s love and talent of sports brought many highlights to him as a teenager and his proud parents. He loved football and rugby, but his real talent was baseball. Not many knew he was offered tryouts with the Pittsburgh Pirates where he hit three home runs
and was offered a spot on their affiliate team. However, strong to his family roots, he opted to travel north to help his sister settle in Whitehorse where his love of the outdoors began. He harvested many snowshoe hare and ptarmigan, amidst wolf and bear encounters, to supplement for groceries. While in Whitehorse he drove a grader and shared many laughs on his learning to drive.

In fulfilling his duties to care for his sister he moved back to Vancouver and took up a couple jobs in a small engine repair shop and working in a RV manufactured plant. While working at the plant, as he often shared, is where he saw, what he described as the one he knew he would be with for the rest of his life. It was love at first sight for Lee when he noticed Diane working. It didn’t take long for Diane to fall in love with his relentless and charming pursuit especially when she understood how big of a heart Lee had!

Many lives changed when Lee, without hesitation stepped in as a father for Diane’s younger children whom he always regarded as his sons and daughter. Lee and Diane’s get-a-ways in their Alpha Romeo sports car brought many fond memories and laughter especially on the time it caught on fire.

Much like the new adventures they shared together they decided to pack up their family only to land in Cranbrook where they remain.

Lee met many people in his career as the manager of Emco and Guillivan International (plumbing, mechanical, heating, cooling and electrical wholesalers). There was nothing that Lee wouldn’t do for his customers and his co-workers. He especially cherished the
customer appreciation events he hosted but one of which he was extremely proud of was called “Hawaiian Days”. Those who were there will never forget.

He was a naturally competitive softball player and golfer. He could line drive a golf ball as well as he could line drive a home run. Many fastball teammates feared playing first base or back-catcher when a ball was caught by Lee at short stop as his throw was known around the league as a leather breaker. Even a family doctor refused to play first base if Lee was in the field as he said his hands are too important. He received many trophies and awards but for him it was about the memories. The memories he so enjoyed in just being with his teammates and their families.

Lee’s love of the outdoors brought him into a partnership in the Wigwam hunting territory in the southeast corner of British Columbia. There, Lee fell for the beauty of the Rocky Mountains and personified a true outdoors man. He loved and respected the mountains along with his horses. He was able to pass along so much of his knowledge to his entire extended family.

Lee and Diane brought many adventures to their children. Lake trips to Uncle Mikes and Auntie Diane’s cottage, fishing trips at the coast, to water Skiing with Jerry. Lee loved to cook. Lasagna, Super-bowl chili, Tony’s prawns but his specialty was his wife-saver Christmas breakfast that he made for everyone. Lee had an expensive but appropriate taste in whatever he bought whether it be a frying pan, a light fixture, or a pair of hunting boots, you could be sure it would always be the best available on the market.

Later in Diane’s retirement years they ventured off with 5th wheel in tow to the Oregon Coast, Polson Montana and Christina Lake but they could never stop going back to their Lussier River camping spot where their 5th wheel remained sometimes from spring until the end of hunting season. Lee and Diane had a very big hunting family. The memories made at camp brought Lee and Diane so much joy.

He was his Grandson and Granddaughters number one fan no matter if it was figure skating, hockey, basketball, cheerleading, BMX biking, harvesting an animal or landing a good fish, he proudly showed pictures of his grandchildren and great grandchildren to all of his good friends!

Lee loved a good cigar and a cold beverage. If you met Lee, you remembered Lee. He would stop doing what he was doing and would be the first to help out his family or friends no matter what. Lee and Diane made so many sacrifices for their entire family over the years.

Lee was an animal lover like no other. He told many stories of his childhood pet skunk “peppy le pue” and his carrier pigeons. He had many dogs for his family in Kuma, Sammy, Jessy and Candace along with their horses Sparky, Max and Clipper. On several occasions you would hear the boys coming back to camp before you could see them as Lee loved to play Cat -Steven’s quite loudly on his truck Stereo. The Beach-boys and Fleetwood Mac were also among his favorites. His love of music and dance made for some unforgettable times with Diane and his family and friends. Lee’s beautiful big heart, beat its last beat early Saturday morning on September the 14th with his beloved wife Diane in his bedside. Lee fought the most courageous battle with humility, kindness and with more concern for everyone else than himself. He truly held on as long as he could until he felt everyone was in as good place so they could accept his passing.

Lee is survived by his wife Diane: son Rick (Corine) children; Kerisa (Jesse) and Kruz; Jessica (Peter); Natalie (Jared): son Danny (Judy) children; Robbie (Mike) Stevie-rose, Shalee (Colton) Jordan and Rhyan; Ashley (Nels), Ryder: daughter Lisa (Tony), Dalton (Kaidynce): nephew Ed (Karen): niece Terry (Frank) children Mathew and Eric. Lee is predeceased by his parents Richard and Violet: sister Myra, brother Terry, niece Debbie (Peter), brother-in-law Michael and nephew Jimmy.

Special thanks to Lee and Diane’s neighbor Chris. Your friendship, generosity and kindness made the unbearable, bearable. To Brad, who Lee jokingly called his beerdrinking, cigar-smoking friend, thank you for your Monday visits it truly gave Lee something to look forward to. And Denis, his work colleague for over 30 years made those long days eventful.

God bless our beloved husband, father, father-in-law, Uncle and Friend. Thou your passing will leave a void, your memories and love will forever fill our hearts. Thank you for your journey - until we meet again, may you fly, free from pain atop our beautiful mountain tops.

Lee would have you raise a glass and give a hug or a kiss but mostly, just be kind to those you hold dear - in his honor!