Mary Carroll Lee - Obituary

ary Carroll Lee, 87, of Edgewater died on July 9, 2012 as a result of respiratory failure. Mrs. Lee, a long time resident of Edgewater was the daughter of C. Carroll Lee, who ran J.F. Johnson Lumber Company for decades. Mrs. Lee loved cooking, sewing, knitting, gardening, and enjoyed seeing live country music. She enjoyed watching over the family as her beloved father did. She loved Ocean City and its people walking the boardwalk and beaches. It was her and her husband’s special place of love. She is perhaps best known for her continuing and ardent support of Lee Airport in the heart of the family's farm. Mrs. Lee loved seeing the airplanes and she enjoyed that pilots were able to come and go from our little airport. Lee Airport was started by her father in the 1930's as a grass runway parallel to Route 2. The Airport's operations have continued only because of significant financial support she provided despite imposition of severe security restrictions following September 11, 2001. Recently Mrs. Lee joined in founding the Lee Farms Conservancy. The Conservancy consists of representatives from neighboring communities. The Conservancy oversees commercial development of the Lee property along Route 2 in Edgewater under comprehensive guidelines negotiated with the local communities. The Conservancy's creation was the lynch-pin to gain support for commercial rezoning and development of 30 acres of the Lee property. The South River Federation recently commended The Village at Lee Airpark for its environmental sensitivity. The Lee property stretches from Southdown Road to Collinson Lee Lane and has remained in the Lee family since the early 1800's. Mrs. Lee's father rejected selling family property and entered into long term leases. The first such leases were to Green Spring Dairy, now the site of Walgreen's and Sonic Hamburgers, Farmer's National Bank (BB&T) and Annapolis Bank and Trust (PNC) to Edgewater in the 60's. In 1989 the Airport was the focus of significant controversy over expansion. After public hearings that packed the Arundel Center's Council room the Airport faced closure. It was her decision in 1989 to join in covenants with the local communities and the Parlett family, then running Lee Airport, that continued operations at the public use Airport. Lee Airport was started by her father in the 1930's as a grass runway parallel to Route 2 and planes were based there during World War 2. Mrs. Lee is survived by her husband Harvey of 65 years, her son Carroll Vansant Lee, her daughter, Mary Elizabeth Lee, four grandchildren; Ross Wendell Jones, Richard Lee Jones, Sarah Elizabeth Jones, Isabella Maria Lee) and four great grandchildren Westin Wendell Jones, Chloe Nicole Jones, Alexis Jones, Connor Lee Jones. Friends are invited to Mrs. Lee's Life Celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, July 12, at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd, Edgewater, where her funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 13. Interment Cedar Bluff Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family would request a donation be made to the American Diabetes Association, 1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311 and National Kidney Foundation, 1301 York Road, Suite 404, Lutherville, MD 21093-6007