Leo Luce Parsons

Leo "Lee" Luce Parsons, 83, of 560 York Street, died Monday, July 29, 2002 at York Hospital following a brief illness. He was born in Kittery, Maine, October 4, 1918, a son of Malcolm H. and Essie Pierce Parsons, the youngest of five brothers and four sisters. He had lived here since 1931.Lee attended Kittery and York schools and graduated from York High School in 1935.Lee was a naval hull inspector from 1942 to 1945 at Electric Boat Company in Groton, CT and Wilmington, NC. He also served in the Merchant Marines from 1943-1944. It was in Groton that he met his wife, the former Regina I. Weed, and they were married in New London, CT, December 26, 1944.At the end of WWII, he returned to Maine and joined his father at M. H. Parsons & Sons Lumber Company where he continued to operate it with his brothers after his father died. Although the company no longer is involved in lumber operations, he actively managed its commercial real estate holdings until he was stricken two weeks ago.He was a member of the Masons in Niantic, CT and Kora Temple Shrine in Lewiston, ME. He was a member of the Federal and Mechanic Fire Societies in Portsmouth, NH, and was a director of the First National Bank of Portsmouth, NH. He always enjoyed traveling to many countries with his wife and many friends.Lee was predeceased by three brothers; Willis, Robert and Lester and two sisters; Essie and Irma. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, "Reggie" I. Parsons of York Harbor, a son, John, and his wife Pam, Parsons of Kittery; a daughter, Chris, and her husband Bill, Mank of Camden, ME; a brother, Clayton Parsons of York; two sisters, Arlene Parsons of Clearwater, FL and Jean Read of Augusta, ME; and five grandchildren; Judd and Mikayla Parsons of York, Alex Carey of New York City, and Leanna and Vitya Mank of Camden, ME.A funeral service will held at 11 AM Monday, August 5, 2002, at First Parish Congregational Church, York. The Rev. Richard Knight will officiate, assisted by the Rev. Linda Hirst. Interment will be in First Parish Cemetery, York.Should friends desire, memorial contributions to the York Volunteer Ambulance Association, P. O. Box 238, York, ME 03909, would be appreciated.