Admired Grandfather ~ Baptist Lay Pastor

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2024: Week 13 (WORSHIP)

"worship verb   wor·​ship ˈwər-shəp   also  worshipped also worshiped; worshipping also worshiping

transitive verb

1: to honor or show reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power

2: to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion" 1

Thinking about who/what to write about for this week's prompt I considered the 2nd part of the definition of Worship.

When Chris and I first met in 1992 it was pretty clear how much he admired his grandfather, Clifton Alexander Lee. 

Chris on the left, Grandpa Clifton in the center

This grandfather, he so admired, offered a safe place for him during his  chaotic growing up years.

Chris was 12 when his grandfather died, and as a young adult he spoke about him with such love and admiration.

Remembering     
                                        Clifton Alexander Lee

BIRTH 20 MAY 1902 • Northfield Centre, Brant Co., Ontario, Canada

DEATH 9 SEP 1979 • Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

Grandpa Clifton was also a Baptist Lay Pastor.

For this reason he fits the full definition of worship.

Taking a moment to remember the relatives who created safety & security!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Footnotes:

1  Definition of Worship. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved March 22nd 2024 from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worship

Photos:

Personal

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Flying Family ~ Clifton Alexander Lee

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 43 (TRANSPORTATION)

Plains, trains, and automobiles 

This week I'm focusing on my husband's grandfather who was a pilot licensed in 1937. 

                                   Clifton Alexander Lee

Clifton was frequently listed as C.A. LEE in documents which was why I was unable to find many records for him prior to discovering the usage of his initials.

Clifton's ground school flight manuals, early 1930s 

Clifton's parents (John & Mattie) were married the 30th of October 1901. John was 18, and Mattie 27. On the marriage license it states that John is 28 and Mattie 22. The 1891 census shows that John is 8 and Mattie 17. The birth and death registrations do not support the marriage license ages. The registration is for their marriage since the parent's names all match correctly. I'm guessing that they didn't want their age difference to be known.  6 1/2 months later Clifton was born on the 20th of May 1902. Maybe Clifton was born premature. The birth certificates of the past didn't list birth weights. We shall never know. Mattie passed away on September 5th 1902 of 'Angina of Heart'. 1   Mattie likely had Postpartum Cardiomyopathy. John was widowed with a 3 month old infant at the age of 19. 


John Franklin Lee
BIRTH 28 MAY 1883 • Northfield Centre, Brant Co., Ontario, Canada
DEATH 12 MAY 1952 • Burford Township, 1654289, Ontario, Canada
and
Martha J Isabel (Mattie) Smith
BIRTH 24 NOV 1873 • Ontario, Canada
DEATH 5 SEP 1902 • Brant, Ontario, Canada


John Franklin Lee married his 2nd wife
May Florence (Florence) Farrell
BIRTH 24 NOV 1882 • Ontario
DEATH 27 SEP 1973


I can not find the record for John & Florence's marriage. The 1911 census records them as married, and residing with 11 year old Clifton as the only child. The 1921 census has 19 year old Clifton as the only child living with John and Florence. Clifton was an only child.

Clifton Alexander Lee was married twice. With his first wife, Velma Shepherd, he had three children (John, Jim, and Eleanor). With his second wife, Eva Aspden, he had two children (Pegi and Mary).


My husband's grandparents:
Clifton Alexander Lee
BIRTH 20 MAY 1902 • Northfield Centre, Brant Co., Ontario, Canada
DEATH 9 SEP 1979 • Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
and
Eva Alice Aspden
BIRTH 4 SEP 1922 • Simcoe, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada
DEATH 23 AUG 2008 • Penticton, British Columbia, Canada

Clifton and his wife Eva are buried in Lakeview Memorial Garden Cemetery in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.


Clifton was a pilot whose two sons (John & Jim) were also pilots, and daughter Eleanor aspired to be a pilot. One of the two female flying students was my husband's grandmother, Eva Aspden, and soon to be 2nd wife to Clifton. 


The article below is from the Brantford Expositor, published on April 27th 1946.

"CHILDREN FOLLOW FATHERS TAKING TO AIR IN COURTLAND
CANADA's 'FLYINGEST' COMMUNITY"   

Closer-up of these two photos and captions below

  

Eva Aspden on the left (my husband's grandmother

Caption "No village in Canada has produced so many flying students as Courtland, Ontario, officials of the Brant-Norfolk flying club believe. The late Flt-Lieut, Jack Rutledge of Courtland, held the Canadian record for the number of operations over enemy territory with 105 missions. Instructor F.E. McFadden and two Courtland students, Eva Aspden and Marie Herron" 

2nd from left  Clifton's son John
2nd from right is Clifton's son Jim
3rd from right is Eva Aspden (soon to be Clifton's 2nd wife)
5th from left is Clifton Lee

Caption "All ages are bitten by the flying bug in the village. Two Courtland fathers have children who are fellow flying students. Left to right are Nancy House, John Lee, Jack Simmons, Marie Herron, C.A. Lee, father of John and James: Mary Troyer, Lloyd E. House, Nancy's father, Eva Aspden, James Lee, and John Troyer" 



Almost half the class at the Brant-Norfolk flying club were connected to Clifton!

Clifton gave up flying after he was badly injured in an accident. The family tells me that Clifton was able to keep a tractor upright while one of his sons made an escape. In doing so he tore the muscles in his chest causing a heart condition. After recovering he retired to raise his and Eva's children while Eva went to work to support the family. 


My husband remembers his grandfather always making him feel safe. He also remembers that his grandpa had the biggest hands, and always smelled like peppermint. 


Week 43 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge has me reflecting on how I went from being in an uncommitted relationship with my blog to publishing every week. This week my husband learned that his grandmother was working on getting her pilot's license. He never knew that his grandmother ever flew a plane. He now understands that his grandmother was way cooler before she became a mother and grandmother.

A shout-out to Genealogist Amy Johnson Crow for this fantastic opportunity. You will find a link to her website below. 


Keeping the stories alive!









This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***





Related Previous Blogs:

Somehow Related Blog Spot,
Irish Twins ~ Hand-In-Hand
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/08/irish-twins-hand-in-hand.html

Somehow Related Blog Spot,
Snake Hips - Swayze
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/03/snake-hips-swayze-at-courthouse.html


Footnote:

1  Ontario, Canada, Deaths and Deaths Overseas, 1869-1947 for Mattie Lee, 005429, Brant, registered October 18th 1902, Retrieved October 25th 2019 from Ancestry.ca



Sources:

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM), American Heart Association, Retrieved October 25th 2019 from
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiomyopathy/what-is-cardiomyopathy-in-adults/peripartum-cardiomyopathy-ppcm

Village of Courtland has gone flying mad, The Brantford Expositor, published April 27th 1946.





Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

_____________________________________________________________________

Irish Twins ~ Hand-In-Hand

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 32 (SISTER)


My husband has a sister who is only 10 months younger than he is. They were very close growing up as 'Irish Twins'. Their mother always put him in charge because he was older, but the two months of the year they were the same age his sister would argue they were the same age. Their mother never agreed. 

my husband and his sister, about 1973

Last spring my husband and his sister traveled to visit their mom who was very ill. Both of them were very busy with work, life & family. Their relationship with their mom was complicated. Neither of them were looking forward to the trip, but their mom was very sick. We drove for a full day. His sister and her husband flew. We picked them up at the airport, and checked into the hotel that was fairly close to the hospital. When we arrived at the hospital brother & sister walked into their mother's hospital room hand-in-hand just like they did when they were small children. The tears were flowing as the love shared between them was spoken and unspoken.

My husband & his sister on the trip to see their mom
spring 2019

This trip was healing in so many ways. They made peace with their past. They reconnected as a family. They had a chance to say goodbye. 

Brother & Sister, Spring 2019

5 weeks ago their mother passed away.

Mary Lee

Urn made by her son

This past weekend,  at a graveside service, family came together to bury their mom's remains with her parents.

Mary's parents: Clifton & Eva (nee Aspden) Lee

My husband and his mother,
May 1996 

   
     

My husband with his mother,
August 2019

my husband with his mother,
about 1980

                       

The graveside service was very moving. As expected there was many tears, but there was also some laughs. 

Little sister, and family, speaking from the heart

~

Big brother standing watch over little sister & her family

As the stories were told there were many smiles among the tears. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal.


Their mother's graveside service was on the Friday of the long weekend. My husband and I had arranged to spend the weekend with his sister and her family. His sister lives in a dry & sunny area with many beaches. After the graveside service the family went to the beach with a family dinner after. The following day we visited a community market & visited a couple of wineries for wine tasting.

Brother & Sister, August 2019

On the day we were heading home the decision was made to take us out for brunch via a 1 hour boat trip. The trip over was beautiful. 

The sun was shining, the water was crystal blue. The mountains were gorgeous. The water was a bit choppy, but our brother-in-law is a good Captain

Brother-in-law, Boat Captain, August 2019

The walk on the sunny boardwalk was spectacular, brunch was amazing, and the trip back was very nice. I decided that their boat was my favourite boat in the whole world until the moment his sister decided to open the sun canopy. That was the moment things got a little batty. 


There was a bat village living in the folded up canopy. At first there was only a couple as we all began scrambling as fast & far from the back of the boat as we could. When they flew away we discovered that bats can swim. By the time we were back at the dock all of the bats opted for a safer quieter refuge under the boat dock. By our best count about 40 bats had been residing in the boat canopy.

Bats can swim!

Right below that canopy cover is a bat

  
My favourite boat?  That was so half a trip ago. My husband's sister and I dashed to the front of the boat where the trip was very rough. We were no longer willing to sit on the comfy couch in the smooth riding back. The rest of the trip back we sat in the bow being splashed and tossed about, but safely away from the bats. If you click the video below you can hear my husband warning his sister about the bumpy waves, and you can see his little sister being tossed around on the trip back. If you listen carefully you might hear what sounds like a bat. Or at least I think you can.


No family trip is complete without a good bat story!

(click video to view)
(listen carefully to hear the bat)

Big brother warning little sister
about the upcoming bumpy waves

Beautiful little sister

Funerals & weddings – reconnecting families!





This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***



Sources:

Earth Touch News Network, Newsflash: Bats can swim ... and they're surprisingly good at it, retrieved August 6th 2019 from https://www.earthtouchnews.com/natural-world/animal-behaviour/newsflash-bats-can-swim-and-theyre-surprisingly-good-at-it/

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!