BYRON – Ernest Lee Knapp, 67, of Byron, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, Nov. 20. “Lee” had been courageously battling cancer since early this year.

He was born in Rumford on March 15, 1938, the son of Kenneth and Helen (Ferrin) Knapp. He attended local schools and graduated from Stephens High School in Rumford, with the Class of 1956.

After graduation, Lee along with several of his friends moved to Bridgeport, Conn., where he worked at Pratt & Whitney. After just one year, he moved back to the Byron area, right where his heart had always been. Lee worked in the woods, cared for his grandparents and held a Maine guide license for a few years.

He married Esther Buck in 1965 and was married for more than 38 years, until her passing in 2003. Lee was a loving and devoted husband. They spent their life together, outside of the house as much as inside. Together they camped, hunted, fished, panned for gold, rode dune buggies, four-wheelers, snow machines and a bobsled that Lee made.

They loved to ride and take pictures of the wildlife. Lee was always planting and digging in Esther’s flower gardens. He was as proud of her gardens as she was. Together they are responsible for many beautiful lupines along Route 17. Each year they would go to the Height of Land, get the pods and throw seeds along the roadside all the way back home. Lee always fed the wild birds and got so excited when the chickadees would land and eat from his hand.

Lee worked as a school bus driver for more than 36 years. In October 1999, he became disabled and left his job due to breathing problems. He could still drive the bus, no problem, but did know and admit that if an emergency arose, he could not get “his kids” off the bus. Everyone who rode on Lee’s bus was “his kid.” He was very proud to have carried “his kids,” and years later “his kids’ kids,” two generations, without incident or accident.

Lee was active in his community and always tried to serve his community well. He was a town selectman and worked at the Volunteer Fire Department. Everyone knew that whenever and whatever was needed, they could count on Lee.

Lee had no biological children of his own, but was a teacher and dad to many, especially his stepdaughter, Lorraine Linda. She always made him happy. He was honored to call her his own. Along with Esther, his life was crushed when the Lord took her home in 1985.

Not only we siblings will suffer a huge loss of our brother, but anyone will who had the honor of just knowing Lee.

He is survived by a brother and four sisters, Ken Knapp and wife, Brenda, of Bryant Pond, Elizabeth Morton and husband, Dan, of Rumford, Ruthe Knapp-Veilleux and husband, Patrick, of Byron, Lois Knapp of Buckfield, and Debbie Adams of Hermon; an aunt and uncle, Irene and Eddie Provencher of Byron; several nieces and nephews; several cousins and many in-laws, who to this day still consider Lee family.

He was predeceased by his parents, Kenneth and Helen (Ferrin) Knapp; his wife, Esther Buck Knapp; and stepdaughter, Lorraine Jones.