George R. Dee

​George Richard "Butch" Dee, 74, a resident of Westford since 1961, President and owner of Dee Bus Service, died Tuesday Nov. 26, 2013 after a brief illness at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of 53 years to Vernelle (Britt) Dee. ​Born in Concord on November 6, 1939, he was the son of the late Leo R. and Margery (Heyliger) Dee. He attended Concord public schools and was a 1958 graduate of Concord High School. ​From 1958 until 1961 he served as a Sergeant and parachutist with the famed U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division. ​Following his military service, he began his career with the family owned and operated Dee Bus Service, eventually becoming President and owner of the firm in 1978. ​An avid traveler, he enjoyed his annual family bus trips during the summer to destinations across the United States. He also enjoyed RV travel, especially to North Carolina and Florida, and the many cruises and Foxwoods excursions he and his family took over the years. ​He was a Life member of the Concord Lodge of Elks and later the Hudson-Concord Lodge of Elks. ​Mr. Dee hosted numerous family get-togethers at his Westford home, and was very fond of attending his children and grandchildren's activities throughout the years. He was a true family man that cherished every moment spent with his beloved family. ​In addition to his wife Vernelle, , survivors include his children, Rick Dee and his wife Kelly of Westford, Renee Dee-Canney and her husband David of Ayer, Sandra Martin and her husband Bill of Westford, Linda MacDonald and her husband Kevin of Groton and Robert "Bo" Dee and his wife Jennifer of Townsend; his grandchildren, Erica, Amanda, Nicole and Alison Dee, Michael and Mary Ahern, Jake and Kyle Martin, Sarah MacDonald and Jackson, Braden and Nolan Dee; his great grandson Jordan Dee O'Neill; his sister Jean Panetta of Boxborough; and his brother Leonard Dee and his wife Patty of Westford. He was also the brother of the late David Dee. ​A funeral service will be held on Saturday Nov. 30th at 10 am in United Methodist Church of Westford, 10 Church St., Westford. Interment will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, Westford. Visiting hours at the J.A. Healy Sons Funeral Home, 57 North Main St., Westford will be held on Friday Nov. 29th from 3 to 8 pm. ​In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in his name may be made to Hospice of the North Shore and Greater Boston, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 (www.hns.org) or to American Heart Association, P. O. Box 417005,Boston, MA 02241-7005 (www.heart.org) or to BigEd.org, 183 State St., 3rd floor, Boston, MA 02109. ​Arrangements are under the care of Charles W. Dee and Susan M. Dee, Dee Funeral Home of Concord. ​To share a remembrance or send a condolence please visit www.deefuneralhome.com​