Martin Lee

Martin H. Lee, age 88, of Portland was born April 9, 1931, to Richard O. and Lottie (Cox) Lee. He graduated from Poling High School Army GED in 1949, earned an associate’s degree from Indiana Business College in 1954, and graduated insurance school in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, and Universal School of Insurance Law in Dallas, Texas.

He was a U.S. Army veteran, having attained the rank of SM E-9. He was awarded the Silver Star, The Bronze Star, three Purple Hearts, three U.S. Presidential Citations, one Philippine Presidential Citation, one Korean Presidential Citation, three Battle Stars on Korean Medal and many other service medals.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, past master of Halfway Lodge Redkey 298 and past master of Jay Lodge #87 of Portland. He was a member of York Rite in Auburn, Indiana, and Mizpah Shrine in Fort Wayne where he was the Commander of the Legion of Honor of the Shrine in 1992 and 2008. He was a life member of DAV and VFW in Geneva, Indiana, and a member of American Legion Ridgeville Post and Military Order of the Purple Heart. He was an honorable member of Kentucky Colonel and a Tennessee Squire.

He was an assistant Scout Master of Troop 206 until 2011. He earned the Daniel Carter Beard Award of Masons in Scouting.

He is survived by his wife Donna M. (Moore) Lee of Portland; three sons, Sean Lee of Hastings, Minnesota, Michael Lee of Fort Wayne and Jeffrey Lee of Kalamazoo, Michigan; and one daughter, Debra Lee of Montville, Michigan.

Funeral services will be Thursday, May 2, 2019, at 2 p.m. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Pastor Gordon Jackson presiding. Jay Lodge #87 F&AM will perform Masonic Services as part of the funeral. Burial with military graveside rites by Ridgeville American Legion will follow in the Gravel Hill Cemetery west of Bryant. Visitation will the Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. Memorials can be made to Jay County Boy Scouts.

Condolences may be expressed at bairdfreeman.com.