| Sources |
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 5 Jul 2006.
Lee announces for re-election to CLB
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 15 Dec 2012.
50 Years - Fred and Juanita Ottinger Lee
-By Janice Casey
Juanita Ottinger, the daughter of the late Elbert and Mary Brown Ottinger, was raised in the Long Creek area. Fred Lee was the son of the late S.A. and Zora Goodnough Lee; he was raised in Newport. Juanita graduated from Parrottsville High School and Tennessee School of Beauty. Fred graduated from Cocke County High School, joined the U. S. Air Force and returned from duty as a military policeman in 1960.
Upon returning from the Air Force, Fred landed a job at Dave’s Oil Company. A friend of Juanita’s at her Uncle Lee Brown’s beauty shop told Juanita that they needed to go to Dave’s to fill her dad’s 1949 Chevrolet up with gas. Juanita took the car to Dave’s; it held 50 cents in gas, but she did meet Fred. Thus began their romance of over 50 years. Incidentally, they still have the 1949 Chevrolet. He proposed to her at his mother’s house on Christmas Day 1961. Four months later, they became man and wife.
On their wedding day at Salem Lutheran Church on April 14, 1962, a late snow fell during the ceremony. When they left the church, both their mothers proclaimed they would not drive on the dangerous road to Gatlinburg, so they ended up in Morristown for their honeymoon!
Today they live in Long Creek in the house built by Juanita’s parents and where Juanita was born. Fred served 29 ½ years with the Air Force and Tennessee National Guard. After they were married, he worked at Wall Tube then went to work at Overholt’s Hardware for 35 years. He is presently employed at Manes Funeral Home. As well, he enjoys ushering at UT football games and holds season tickets at Bristol Raceway. Juanita settled down to life on the farm and continues to enjoy farm and outdoor work to this day. The Lees have one daughter, Deborah (David) Boyd, and a grandson, Tyler. Juanita dairy farms in partnership with her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson on land that has been in the family for six generations. She also operates a beef farm that was established by her grandfather in 1921.
Until her father’s accident in 1992, Juanita and the family also ran the store at Long Creek that had been in operation since 1876, where the store doubled as the post office for “Peanut.” For almost 20 years, she has provided it to the county as a voting precinct so that the community has a close place to vote and the building can still serve a purpose. Juanita can often be seen on the tractor mowing and raking hay or working with the young calves and bulls headed to AI organizations. She enjoys traveling to meetings with her daughter and grandson and assisting in the various organizations to which they belong. The outdoors has always been and remains her favorite place to be.
The Lees remain active in their community. Fred is a longtime member of the Parrottsville Ruritan Club and chairs the Citizenship and Patriotism Committee. He also served as the Smoky Mountain District Governor. He is a Mason and a Shriner. He served for 24 years as the County Commissioner from the Second District. The Lees are members of Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church. He still works in the hayfield during the summer but admits that he “doesn’t do cows!” He travels across the country to annual meetings of the National Guard Enlisted Association with fellow friends who have retired from the Newport unit. Fred and Juanita love to travel and have enjoyed several cruises. In fact, they have another cruise planned for February 2013.
In April 2012, they were honored by their daughter and her family at a 50th anniversary celebration at Deborah’s home. Many friends, relatives, and neighbors attended. A highlight from the celebration was a DVD produced by Conchita Austin that portrayed a journey through their lives.
When asked to give advice to young couples contemplating marriage, Fred says, “Don’t make hasty decisions.” Juanita adds, “You must have lots of love and understanding for each other.”
We are happy to honor Fred and Juanita Lee as the December Golden Couple.
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(Age ~ 89 years)