Baxter Bon Lee

Baxter Lee passed away the morning of Friday, October 6, 2023, at the age of 62 years.

He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Gillian; Aunt Lancy, Uncle Bing, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He is pre-deceased by his parents, Wallace Chung Kwong Lee (February, 2021) and Phyllis Ping Lee (April, 2023).

Baxter was born and raised in Calgary, the treasured only child of Wallace and Ping Lee. He was an ambitious and driven young man where the options for him were to become either a doctor or lawyer. In high school, he started work at Woodward’s in the dairy department where he was employed for six years. He also worked as a lifeguard for the City of Calgary. He graduated from the University of Calgary with a Political Science degree before going to Law School at the University of Ottawa. He articled and was called to the bar in Ontario, where he worked as a lawyer in Toronto. Baxter later moved back to Calgary and was called to the bar there in the early 2000’s where he worked and lived in Lethbridge (also coaching football), Canmore, and Calgary. His work with the Crown’s office took him all over southern Alberta. In 2009, he left the Crown and started his own firm in Okotoks. He built his practice over 13 years before retiring at the end of 2022. As a lawyer, he was a member of the Ontario and Alberta Law Societies. He also provided services for legal aid and his firm participated and supported local festivals and activities. He volunteered at various charitable events, Christmas markets, Salvation Army kettle drives, and The Kidney March.

In his personal life, Baxter was very social, which he inherited from his father. He developed many lifelong friendships and was always wanting to get together with friends and family for a good meal, tea, and/or to play games. He often recalled how much he enjoyed playing the game Diplomacy in University, and fantasy football. He was a devoted Stampeders and Flames fan and talked about following a team to different cities in his retirement to watch them play.

He loved to travel and had been all over North and South America, Europe, and Asia. He went on many many cruises over the years. He was particularly fond of Maui for vacationing as his parents had a timeshare there. He subsequently traveled back to Hawaii three times with Gillian. He and Gillian also honeymooned in London and Paris, as well as traveling to Hong Kong together. They cruised in the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal.

Baxter and Gillian met October 25, 2006 at ‘six minute dates’. They each met 11 people that night but they only matched each other. Their love grew quickly with Baxter proposing five months later, and they married in May 2008.

While Baxter‘s health issues were significant he made the most of his time and was a happy man. He would constantly bounce back from challenges and concentrated on moving forward. This could be attributed to his calm and laid-back personality helping him go so much farther than expected. He didn’t let things like needing a scooter or having to be on dialysis stop he and Gillian from living a full life together. As long as they were together, they were happy. They were best friends.

Baxter was an avid reader and political junkie. He loved online shopping, tech gadgets and all types of music, with jazz, possibly being his favorite. He was also a US Civil War and military buff. He loved animals, especially dogs. He often talked of wanting a Rhodesian Ridgeback or Blue Heeler. After his and Gillian’s wonderful dog, Pippin, passed away in 2015 his new loves were two cats, Arwen and Strider, who he was always buying toys and treats for…online of course.

Baxter was a romantic and he loved being married. He could cry at movies and sometimes even at sappy TV commercials. He embraced ballroom dancing, particularly the rhumba with Gillian.

So many words can describe Baxter, not the least of which being that he was warm, gentle, kind, strong, loving, smart, funny, witty, honest, and the best of men. Although his passing has left a cavernous hole in our lives the impression he has left and our memories will be held dearly in our hearts.

Gillian and family would like to thank everyone for the support, kindness, condolences, and memories of Baxter.

If friends so desire, donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation or the Heart and Stroke Foundation in lieu of flowers.

A Memorial Service will be held for Baxter at Pierson’s Forest Lawn Chapel (4121 – 17 Avenue SE, Calgary) on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. People can speak a tribute or memory of Baxter at the memorial if they wish to do so.