July 5, 2014

Clarence “Poppa Lee” Lee, 78, of Picayune, Miss., passed away Saturday, July 5, 2014.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 09, 2014 from 10: a.m.-12 noon at Annunciation Catholic Church in Kiln, Miss. A Memorial Mass will follow at 12 noon with Father John Noone officiating. Burial will be at Rotten Bayou St. Joseph Cemetery.

Clarence Lee, Sr. was known as “Poppa Lee” to friends, family and strangers. Mr. Lee worked on the railroads for more than a decade, went to barber school and cut hair in Louisiana and Waveland for many years. He then gave that up to be on his farm.

He ran Poppa Lee’s Riding Stables for 35 years. People would come from nearby and from other states to rent horses and ride on Poppa Lee’s trails for the day. He would get up at daylight to feed and take care of the horses. He would saddle the horses and bring customers lunch and wait at the stables until they came back.

After Katrina, Poppa Lee closed his business and focused in on another passion — bailing hay. It was his happy place. He loved to be on that tractor. He loved to be in the hay fields. If he wasn’t doing something on that farm, he wasn’t happy.

He did what he loved. Poppa Lee, who would become grumpy if he was inside for too long, was out in the fields days before he passed. He did exactly what he loved until the day he passed away.

He was preceded in death by his parents August and Dora Lee

He is survived by his wife of 59 years Leonia Jean Lee of Picayune; sons, Clarence Steven (Darlene) Lee of Picayune, Vernon Keith Lee of Picayune, and David Lane (Renee) Lee of Picayune; daughters, Mary Phyllis Spiers of Picayune, Gerry Maria (Gerald) Cruthird of Picayune, Kellie Teresa (Scott) Compton of Diamondhead, and Tangela Sue Boutwell of Hattiesburg; sister, Pauline Chandler of Sumrall; 18 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

A special thanks to Cannon Hospice of South Mississippi.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Annunciation Catholic Church in Kiln, Miss., in honor of Clarence Lee.

The community remembers Poppa Lee for his sense of humor. His life was all about making people laugh. His motto in his high school years book was “Why worry it will happen anyway.”

Arrangements are under the direction of Picayune Funeral Home. Please visit our website for the obituary. You can leave an online condolence or share photos and memories.  www.picayunefuneral.com