An interview with Lee Marlay

From 1912 and into the future
     Lee Marlay shared his earliest memory as if it had not been over 90 years ago. When Lee was about 2 years old he and his grandfather, Lorenzo Dow Marlay (his earliest ancestor to settle in Sullivan County), were going out across the pasture near a branch when they saw a pile of hazel brush all stacked up. When they investigated they found a big white sow on top of the pile with 12 baby piglets. The sow had cut down the hazel brush and piled it up for a nest for her and the babies. Lee and grandpa Lorenzo took food to the new mother but because she was right by the branch they didn't have to carry water to her.
     Lee has many wonderful memories and shared several with us as we spent a delightful afternoon with him. He talked about his children and grandchildren with great pride and love, but two particular people brought his love shining into the room as brightly as the sun shone outside. When Lee talked about his wife, Lorraine and their nearly 70 years together his love for her glowed. We realized we have missed knowing a wonderful family. Lee's eyes sparkled with joy when he spoke of his great granddaughter Rachel. One of his delights is when he is talking with his grandchildren on the phone and Rachel says "I love you great grandpa" then is gone. As Lee told us of her we could almost hear her giggle.
     Lee attended Maggart Elementary School, but because of the "great depression" was unable to go on to high school so began his long and interesting career, and he has had an interesting life and shares his memories with relish. He worked on the farm of a millionaire from Keokuk, Iowa and raised and showed many "Grand Champion" bulls. He related one instance when they had a bull from a heifer they had gotten from Scotland. Lee knew that bull would be a winner, but a buyer came to buy bulls and picked that one. However he didn't take it or pay at that time and reserved the right to pick a different bull when he came back. Lee really didn't want to part with that special bull so he dressed the other bulls up real nice for showing but "hadn't gotten around to getting his 'winner' ready". The buyer decided to take a different bull that Lee had already for show. Lee kept his special bull, and sure enough it was a "Grand Champion." He showed bulls in various surrounding states and always had winners.
     Besides farming, he eventually bought the farm he had worked on, he was a veterinarian for 30 years, worked with the government with the soil bank and also during World War II was an inspector to be sure there was no "ration hording". Lee also worked in construction and told about laying curbs on Pearl Street, but the project that brought him the most pride in construction was the building of a huge dike. The dike was 40 feet high and a quarter mile long. They made the cement blocks weighing 150 pounds each, from which it was built without benefit of having been surveyed. Lee used and 8-foot surveying rod and an eye level to build it straight and true.
     He then showed us a metal model of a 1925 model T Ford pick up, the first year Ford made pick-ups in response to the demand for them. People had cut out the back of their model T and put a box on them, thus the pick up. Lee's first car was a 1923 model T roadster. At one time he had a 1929 Ford that he traded a 250-pound hog for. The hog was worth about $20 and later when he sold the model T after much use he got $100 for it. Not a bad profit on his $20 hog.
     When asked what kept bringing him back to Milan after working in many other areas including St. Louis, he said with a chuckle "cause I was born and raised here and I want to be buried here, but they won't bury me".
     From farming and cars we went to pies. Lee is famous for his pies and cooking and when asked how he got started cooking and baking he told about when his wife became ill he wanted something to do. He found that something in the kitchen and many others, as well as we can attest to his success there. He showed us his pantry with jars and jars of home canned beans, tomatoes, pickles, peaches, tomato juice and more.
     Another early memory that Lee shared was when his sister, Lovizila and his grandfather died. His sister was very sick and it was cold, heavy snowstorm, and about 30 below zero. His grandfather had heart trouble and had gone to the barn but didn't come back. Apparently the cold, and breathing it, had been too much. Grandpa Lorenzo died in the barn. Very shortly after that his sister died and Lee could "remember as clear as if it were yesterday when they put grandpas coffin in the horse drawn funeral coach then put my sisters coffin in on top of it". "They were buried at Deep Springs Cemetery."
     With his long and eventful life Lee still looks to the future. He feels Milan has a good future and looks forward to another company coming in to Con-Agra. He is optimistic about that happening, providing employment for our young people. He also had some advice for those young people. "Keep active and work, don't shirk, you don't have to work fast, work steady and keep going, it's healthy for you too."
     Lee has obviously followed his own advice and we thank him for sharing his memories and wisdom with us.