Frank's headstone is sculptured to look like a tree trunk. It reads, "Here lies a woodman of the world Dum tacet Clamat which means .... Courage Hope Remembrance" It was dedicated by the Women of Woodcraft.


OBIT:

A most distressing accident occurred Thursday afternoon near this city in which one of the best-known men of the county lost his life. The victim is Frank Lee, son of Mrs. Amy Lee Hutchinson, of this city. Death resulted by his being thrown from a heavily loaded wagon which passed over the victim's chest, crushing the life out of him.

The terrible affair occurred near the farm of Charles Chapman about a mile and a half south from Pendleton. Lee, who lives out on Birch Creek at what is known as Lee's Crossing, came to Pendleton early Thursday. He remained here until about 4 o'clock when he departed for home with a load of chop feed from the the mill. He reached Chapman's place between 4 and 5 o'clock, where the accident happened which resulted in his death.

For some reason the team became frightened and ran away. It appears that he lost complete control of them and the roughness of the road displaced several of the sacks of feed with which the wagon was loaded. He was thrown from the wagon by the falling sacks and it would seem that he fell from the front end on to the double trees. From here, he fell underneath and the wheels passed over his chest, crushing him in a most horrible manner. The wagon contained 3000 pounds of chop feed and two wheels of this heavy load passed over the body of the man.

Some nearby parties witnessed the accident and at once went to the assistance of Lee. Life was not yet extinct and they carried him back to Dr. Cole's hospital on Webb Street in this city. Here, all that medical assistance could accomplish was done for the victim of the accident, but it was beyond earthly power to keep alive the spark of life that was slowly but surely dying out. He lived a short hour after the accident, strength and constitution being unable to withstand the terrible injuries resulting from the heavy weight that had passed over the body.

Lee was conscious until the last, and realized that there was little or no hope of his recovery. A short time before death came to relieve his terrible sufferings, he expressed a wish for spiritual advice and a messenger was dispatched to town for a minister, but before his arrival death had kindly come to his relief. Death occurred at about a quarter before 6 o'clock.

Frank Lee was probably known to nearly everyone in Umatilla County. He has lived here since his birth, and has grown up in the confidence and respect of all with whom he came in contact. He was unmarried and was between the age of 33 and 35 years. His mother and two sisters are the only immediate living relatives, his father, William Lee, having died in this city 15 years ago. The mother of the unfortunate young man is Mrs. Amy Lee Hutchinson, and is a resident of Pendleton. Both sisters are married, one of them, a Mrs. McLaughlin, residing at Seattle. The other, Mrs. William Bowman, lives on Birch Creek, her husband and the deceased having been engaged together in farming. Lee has made his home with them, and he was on his way to their place when he met with the accident that resulted in his untimely death.

The many friends of the deceased are at a loss to account for the accident, as Lee was a thorough and efficient teamster. He had done nothing else practically since a boy, and it is hard for his friends to realize that he met death in such a manner.

The body is now at the undertaking rooms of William Nelson on Main Street being prepared for burial. No time has yet been set for the funeral but it will probably be on Sunday afternoon.

Frank Lee's father, William Lee, was a pioneer of this county. Lee's crossing, six miles south from this place, was named after William Lee, the father, he having taken up the ranch, which is located at that point.