Fannin County TXGenWeb
 Lee  Cemetery

The gravestone of R.E. Lee, missing for 36 years has been returned to Lee Cemetery. The story below appeared in the Leonard paper, Dec 2002. The stones exact dates read, b.2-7-1863 -d.9-25-1881. R.E. Lee photograph by David Womack

In the photograph are Lee descendants Howard Netherton on the left and Mike Abbe on the right.
Photo taken by Lee descendent Bonita Abbe Hestand.

MISSING LEE CEMETERY GRAVESTONE RETURNED AFTER 36 YEARS

"After a 36 year odyssey through several states a gravestone belonging to R. E. Lee who died in 1881 has finally been returned back home to the Historic Lee Cemetery in Hunt County near Leonard."

 "This stranger than fiction story began in 1965 when the stone was retrieved out of a ditch next to the Lee Cemetery and ended up in the possession of Lee descendant Donna Lee Martin of Las Vegas, Nevada. After carrying the stone with her to Utah, California and Nevada all these years, she was anxious to return it back to its proper place."

 "The long trip back home began this past October of 2001, when Donna contacted another Lee cousin Mike Abbe of Lubbock, Tx. with her story, who then put her in touch with Lee cousin Howard Netherton of Leonard. "

" Arrangements were made and Donna traveled to Leonard this past Christmas and hand delivered the stone to Howard, who then put the stone back in the cemetery. R. E. Lee was the son of Confederate Civil War veteran Captain Bob Lee and Malinda Mahan Lee. "

"The Lee's are grateful to Donna to have the stone back in Lee Cemetery after all this time."

Story told by Mike Abbe and picture taken by my Aunt Bon

(Bonita Abbe Hestand).