Lucille Dee

1918 - 2017

Lucille Ella Frederickson Dee passed away peacefully at home on October 26, 2017, after a brief illness. Daughter of Anthony and Alpha Frederickson, she was born and grew up on a farm near Stratford, Iowa. She attended Iowa State College where she met the love of her life, Clarence Dee. After Clarence graduated from veterinary college at Iowa State in 1939 and established a veterinary job in Miami, he returned to Iowa in 1940 to marry Lucille and return with her to South Florida. After Clarence's service in the Army Air Corps as a veterinary officer, the family returned to Miami Shores. In 1947, Clarence and his classmate, Ivan C. Frederickson, Lucille's brother, combined their talents and established the Hollywood Animal Hospital. Ivan would treat small animals and Clarence would treat large animals. Meanwhile, Lucille was raising the family on their 20-acre farm on Stirling Road (now Arapahoe Farms), a family, which would eventually include four boys and, the youngest, a girl. Instead of raising corn, Lucille was raising children. Lucille always liked to stay busy. In addition to the family, Lucille was an active member of St. Johns Lutheran Church for seventy years, numerous PTAs, and the Florida Veterinary Medical Association Auxiliary, serving as its president. For forty years her life was centered on her family: school activities, fishing, hunting, traveling, Dolphin games, and organized veterinary medicine. She always stayed busy. Lucille was assisting Clarence and Ivan at Hollywood Animal Hospital from the early years of the business, helping with payroll and personnel. For many young employees, she was a second mother. When she turned ninety, she said she would retire. But after a week at home, she returned to work, stating, "I've got to stay busy." Until a few weeks before her death she maintained her own home, drove her own car, and especially enjoying travelling with family and friends - to the Florida Keys, Colorado, national and international veterinary conventions, and quilting events. At the 100th anniversary of the American Veterinary Medical Association Auxiliary in July, she was recognized for her years of service to the Auxiliary. She always enjoyed meeting people. Her passion was making quilts and she was always quilting items for family and in service to others. She actively belonged to two quilting clubs in Hollywood, "Southern Stars Quilt Guild" and "Material Girls." Countless individuals over many years, from infants in the NICU unit to cancer patients, were blessed to receive comfort-giving quilts from these groups. Lucille was predeceased by her siblings: Fred Frederickson of Mt Jackson, Va.; Ivan C. Frederickson, Tequesta, Fl.; Alberta Yuskis, El Cajon, Ca.; and by her husband of 56 years, Clarence E. Dee. She is survived by five children: Jon F. Dee DVM (Brenda), Hollywood: Larry G. Dee DVM (Rita), Hollywood; James D. Dee DVM (Nancy), Dania; David S. Dee Esq. (M'Lou), Tallahassee; and Barbara Jean Thomas RN (James), Fort Lauderdale. She has ten grandchildren: Glenn Dee, Kimberly Roper (Scott), Scott Dee, Christopher Dee, Keri Dee Schaefer (John), Lindsey Dee, Madison Dee, Grant Thomas, Eric Thomas (Monica), and Katherine Thomas. She has five great grandchildren: Jack and Lucy Roper, and Lucia, Preston, and Everett Schaefer. A visitation will be held at Fred Hunter's Funeral Home, 2401 South University Drive, Davie, FL. on Sunday, October 29th, from 5 to 8 PM. A memorial service will be held Monday, October 30th at 1 PM at St Johns Lutheran Church, 2919 Van Buren St. in Hollywood. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Johns Lutheran Church, 2919 Van Buren St., Hollywood, 33020 or the Clarence and Lucille Dee Scholarship at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 14425 Gainesville FL 32604.