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Lee Cone and many others remembered on All Saints' Day Published November 7, 2010 Lee Cone's friendship and service to his church and his God were recalled by family and friends in a special celebration of life luncheon at North Kingstown UMC on All Saints' Day, Sunday November 7th. It was an opportunity for the congregation who loved Lee to offer written memories and tributes to Lee and loving words and hugs for his daughter Lynn. Lee, who passed away in August, was recalled as a humble man who had a positive attitude in life and helped others, always faithful to his Lord. During worship service which preceded the luncheon, the congregation also remembered all the saints who have gone on before us--our departed family, our friends, including the faithful charter members of our church, now with God: Eleanor Bourn, Sam Flade and Ken Green. "You meet people who forget you. You forget people you meet. But sometimes, you meet those people you can't forget. Those are your friends."

Celebrating the Life of Lee Cone

By Larry Price

Published August 27, 2010

We are feeling a great sadness, an emptiness in our church, following the death of Lee Cone whose life of 92 years was celebrated in a funeral service today. I’ve been too slow to write a tribute to Lee, not for any lack of things to say about Lee and his life, but simply because I, like so many, am struggling to come to grips with the painful loss of a good friend to all of us. Among the many we have known, Lee Cone was very special. 

We visited Lee in the hospital less than two weeks ago. He was in good spirits, smiling and laughing. He said the doctors would be running some tests the next day, but he expected he would be home in a few days. He knew the medical tests could reveal difficult news, but he said he would accept whatever the doctors told him for Lee’s philosophy was to trust in God.

During that visit, he repeated what he has told me before and what he also related to The Rev. Beverly Stenmark, one of our former pastors, years before: “I have concerns in life. I have concerns about family and friends, but I never worry, because I know God will take care of us.” 

He also told me how blessed he has been to have so many good friends. Lee valued friendship and believed that if you have friends, you have everything. He said, “If you have all the money in the world, but don’t have friends, you’re poor. If you lose all your money, but have friends, you’re still rich.”

And like every other day of his life, his thoughts during that visit, were also with his late wife Millie who died 10 years ago. Lee always knew and would quote the number of years, month and days they spent together in marriage before Millie passed away. He treasured every hour of their life together and her departure ahead of him to God’s Heavenly Kingdom was a sadness he carried with him every day; but he drew the strength and comfort to carry on by helping others and his service to God.

Whether he was driving a neighbor to a doctor’s appointment or offering a cheerful greeting at church to everyone he met, he embraced life. Lee easily moved among people of all ages. He gently squeezed the tiny fingers of a newly baptized baby, greeted strangers with a warm handshake, hugged the women and men who called him a friend, and was respected as the epitome of “cool” by young people.

The only mysterious contrast I ever noticed in Lee was that while he had a smile for anyone and everyone with whom he spoke, his expression often seemed to take on a more serious tone whenever he posed for a photo I took of him. Occasionally, he would smile for the camera, but usually his expression was more stoic. I can’t help but wonder that maybe in that brief instant when the photo was about to click, his thoughts turned to the woman he loved who was no longer standing beside him.

Before I left Lee that last time in that hospital room, I told him we would be praying for him. I hugged him, offered a gentle kiss on his forehead and said, “We love you.” He smiled and said, “I love you too.” I never expected that would be the last chance to talk with a good friend who taught us so much about life, faith and friendship.

We offer our prayers for Lee’s family—especially his daughter Lynn who also has been a part of our church family for many years. May God give her the strength to accept her father’s passing. We also thank Lee’s family in North Carolina and other parts of the country away from Rhode Island for sharing Lee with us for so many years. We got to see him nearly every week because he missed very few Sunday worships—far fewer than any of us. 

Our faith comforts us in our belief that Lee is again with Millie after a blessed life of 92 years that touched so many, many lives. Still, as we celebrate and cherish his life, we also know it will be impossible to replace that special greeting Lee gave to each of us on Sunday morning. God bless you, Lee.

More about Lee Cone:  http://www.nkumcri.com/nkumcri/Lee.html

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