Thomas Lee was the only child born to Henry Gamble Armstrong and Nellie Kimbrough Murdock Armstrong. He was born in the Lynn Grove, Kentucky neighborhood and then grew up living on the same farm all his life. When Thomas Lee went with his parents to get their divorce on August 24, 1933 just 2 days after his tenth birthday, the judge said to Thomas Lee, "Well, I have seen other boys with only one gallos over their shoulder and they turned out to make something out of themselves." Thomas Lee told his daughter, Frances, that he had thought of that statement many, many times throughout his life.
In 1933 the farm where the Armstrongs lived was mortgaged and the depression was raging; however, Nell and Thomas Lee worked very hard and together were able to pay off the mortgage. This meant that Thomas Lee was not able to keep his school grades up even though he was a very intelligent man with a tremendous memory. A long poem he had to learn in high school he was able to recite as long as he lived. He was a wonderful student of the Bible and was able to quote long sections of scripture.
After graduating from high school, he attended Freed-Hardeman College for one year before coming back home to marry Freda Gay Baker on June 19, 1943. Their daughter, Frances Mildred was born October 10, 1944 and a son, James Henry was born August 3, 1949. They were married for 57 years when Freda passed away in 2000. They made a wonderful team and worked together in everything they did. They were both wonderful Christians as members of the Church of Christ and enjoyed church activities. Thomas Lee was an elder and song leader for many years. They farmed all their lives and Thomas Lee grew tobacco from age 10 until his last crop at age 79. He always milked cows and Freda made homemade butter from the cream. His greatest enjoyment came from working "a good pair of mules" which he always had. Thomas Lee was always a "people person" and enjoyed talking and joking with people. Thomas Lee or "Teed", as close family members called him loved his family and most of all he loved the Lord.
In 1933 the farm where the Armstrongs lived was mortgaged and the depression was raging; however, Nell and Thomas Lee worked very hard and together were able to pay off the mortgage. This meant that Thomas Lee was not able to keep his school grades up even though he was a very intelligent man with a tremendous memory. A long poem he had to learn in high school he was able to recite as long as he lived. He was a wonderful student of the Bible and was able to quote long sections of scripture.
After graduating from high school, he attended Freed-Hardeman College for one year before coming back home to marry Freda Gay Baker on June 19, 1943. Their daughter, Frances Mildred was born October 10, 1944 and a son, James Henry was born August 3, 1949. They were married for 57 years when Freda passed away in 2000. They made a wonderful team and worked together in everything they did. They were both wonderful Christians as members of the Church of Christ and enjoyed church activities. Thomas Lee was an elder and song leader for many years. They farmed all their lives and Thomas Lee grew tobacco from age 10 until his last crop at age 79. He always milked cows and Freda made homemade butter from the cream. His greatest enjoyment came from working "a good pair of mules" which he always had. Thomas Lee was always a "people person" and enjoyed talking and joking with people. Thomas Lee or "Teed", as close family members called him loved his family and most of all he loved the Lord.
Thomas Lee was the only child born to Henry Gamble Armstrong and Nellie Kimbrough Murdock Armstrong. He was born in the Lynn Grove, Kentucky neighborhood and then grew up living on the same farm all his life. When Thomas Lee went with his parents to get their divorce on August 24, 1933 just 2 days after his tenth birthday, the judge said to Thomas Lee, "Well, I have seen other boys with only one gallos over their shoulder and they turned out to make something out of themselves." Thomas Lee told his daughter, Frances, that he had thought of that statement many, many times throughout his life.
In 1933 the farm where the Armstrongs lived was mortgaged and the depression was raging; however, Nell and Thomas Lee worked very hard and together were able to pay off the mortgage. This meant that Thomas Lee was not able to keep his school grades up even though he was a very intelligent man with a tremendous memory. A long poem he had to learn in high school he was able to recite as long as he lived. He was a wonderful student of the Bible and was able to quote long sections of scripture.
After graduating from high school, he attended Freed-Hardeman College for one year before coming back home to marry Freda Gay Baker on June 19, 1943. Their daughter, Frances Mildred was born October 10, 1944 and a son, James Henry was born August 3, 1949. They were married for 57 years when Freda passed away in 2000. They made a wonderful team and worked together in everything they did. They were both wonderful Christians as members of the Church of Christ and enjoyed church activities. Thomas Lee was an elder and song leader for many years. They farmed all their lives and Thomas Lee grew tobacco from age 10 until his last crop at age 79. He always milked cows and Freda made homemade butter from the cream. His greatest enjoyment came from working "a good pair of mules" which he always had. Thomas Lee was always a "people person" and enjoyed talking and joking with people. Thomas Lee or "Teed", as close family members called him loved his family and most of all he loved the Lord.
In 1933 the farm where the Armstrongs lived was mortgaged and the depression was raging; however, Nell and Thomas Lee worked very hard and together were able to pay off the mortgage. This meant that Thomas Lee was not able to keep his school grades up even though he was a very intelligent man with a tremendous memory. A long poem he had to learn in high school he was able to recite as long as he lived. He was a wonderful student of the Bible and was able to quote long sections of scripture.
After graduating from high school, he attended Freed-Hardeman College for one year before coming back home to marry Freda Gay Baker on June 19, 1943. Their daughter, Frances Mildred was born October 10, 1944 and a son, James Henry was born August 3, 1949. They were married for 57 years when Freda passed away in 2000. They made a wonderful team and worked together in everything they did. They were both wonderful Christians as members of the Church of Christ and enjoyed church activities. Thomas Lee was an elder and song leader for many years. They farmed all their lives and Thomas Lee grew tobacco from age 10 until his last crop at age 79. He always milked cows and Freda made homemade butter from the cream. His greatest enjoyment came from working "a good pair of mules" which he always had. Thomas Lee was always a "people person" and enjoyed talking and joking with people. Thomas Lee or "Teed", as close family members called him loved his family and most of all he loved the Lord.
