For Posterity's Sake         

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar 

BUSHEN, Lee Palmer - 88, Upper Sackville Passed away at the Camp Hill Veterans' Memorial Building, Halifax on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in West Dublin, he was the son of the late Eldred and Amy (Mosher) Bushen. Lee is survived by his wife of 65 years, June (Himmelman) Bushen; daughters, Judith (Paul) Church, Lower Sackville, Patricia (Mel) Ross, Upper Sackville; grandchildren, Norman MacQueen and Danielle Deveaux, Sydney; brother, Norbert Bushen, West Dublin; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He will be sadly missed by family pets, Rosie Lea and Ginger Mae. He was predeceased by daughter, Leah MacQueen, sisters, Anne Ackman, Eileen Robar and Barbara Worth. Lee a veteran of the Second World War, he began his naval career as an ordinary seaman in the Merchant Navy in 1937. Lee enlisted in the RCN in 1939 as able seaman. He advanced to leading seaman, petty officer, to chief petty officer first class, master gunner/instructor. He received the 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star and Clasp (denoting France and Germany Star), Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp and the War Medal 1939-45 virtue of his service in the Merchant Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve. Lee served aboard many naval ships, Lady Hawkins, HMCS Assiniboine, HMCS Skeena, HMCS Avalon, Stadacona, Cornwallis, Hochelaga, the frigate HMCS Stettler. Upon release from the Navy, he enrolled in a carpentry course in 1945. He worked on several ships as a carpenter and later became a self-employed contractor, building houses in Liverpool as well as Cape Breton. The family moved to Cape Breton in 1954. He served in the Canadian Army Militia as a sapper for a brief time. Lee closed his own carpentry business after many years and worked for Reid's Building Supplies in Sydney until his retirement. After living in Cape Breton for over 50 years, Lee and June moved to Upper Sackville in 2004 to be near the rest of the family. Lee was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed the great outdoors traipsing through the woods near his hunting "shack." He loved his music, when jigs and reels were played, he would often pick up his fiddle or spoons and join in. His interests in "all things navy" continued through his membership in the Cape Breton Naval Veterans' Association. Visitation will be held 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. with a legion service 7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, in Atlantic Funeral Home, 125 Sackville Dr., Lower Sackville. Funeral service to be held 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, in Church of the Good Shepherd, 28 Trinity Lane, Beaverbank, Rev. Don Shipton officiating. Reception to follow in the church hall. Burial in Oakridge Memory Gardens, Lower Sackville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the QE II Health Sciences Centre Foundation Camp Hill Veterans' Memorial Building Garden Fund, Church of the Good Shepherd Memorial Fund or charity of your choice. Special thanks to the VMB 5 West Garrison Team for their excellent care and support.