Olive May Lee

LEE, Olive May (née Jennett) – Passed away peacefully on May 14, 2021 at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital in her 78th year. Olive was born to Emmerson Jennett and Dorothy May Hughes at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie on October 29, 1943. She was raised and lived in Essa Township until November 2020, at which time she moved to Gravenhurst. She is predeceased by her husband, Jim Blakely, and her brothers Fred and Mervyn. Olive leaves behind her husband, Ross Lee whom she married in 1982; sons Allan and Ralph (Cindy) Blakely; her sister Elenore Helmer.  Upon graduation from Barrie Central Collegiate, Olive started her career working for the Simcoe County Board of Education which spanned more than 40 years as secretary at several area high schools and finally at the Board Office. She was a member of the Barrie Chapter of Professional Secretaries International and obtained her CPS rating in 1988; she held many positions within PSI locally, provincially and within the USA. Olive was a member of the Essa Historical Society since 1997 where she produced many calendars, history books and coordinated the unveiling of 7 plaques of Essa Township. She served as secretary to the Historical Society for 23 years. For her service, Olive was elected to the Wall of Honor at the Museum on the Boyne in Alliston in 2012. A visitation will be held the JENNETT FUNERAL & CREMATION CENTRE, 152 Bradford Street in Barrie on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. until the time of memorial service at 12:00 p.m. Interment of ashes to follow at Ivy Anglican Cemetery. Attendance will be limited and guests are asked to RSVP through the funeral home website or by calling 705-722-6656. As an expression of sympathy memorial donations may be made to Diabetes Canada. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family by visiting www.funeralhome.on.ca