Wiley “Mike” Mitchell Lee of Fernandina Beach, FL passed away peacefully at the Warner Center Fernandina Beach on Friday October 20, 2023.
Mike was born at Humphrey’s Memorial Hospital in Fernandina Beach on February 10, 1956, and grew up on Cedar Street. He is preceded in death by his parents James Mitchell “Mickey” Lee, Opal Mercer Head, grandparents James Rufus Lee and Beatrice King Lee, Uncle Joseph “Smiley” Lee, Aunt Margy Ann Lee, Aunt Lorena Wilder, Uncle Gorenflo Wilder, Aunt Cloteen Douglas, Uncle Herbert Douglas, Aunts Gail Crews, and Oletha Mercer.
Mike is survived by his son, Wyatt Fenton Lee (Amber); Wyatt’s mother, Marian Phillips Fernandina Beach; his brothers, Mark Anthony Lee (Kay) Eastman, GA; Clarence Ray Lee and Curtis Benjamin Lee of Fernandina Beach. His nephews, Mark A. Lee Jr, Dawson Lee, Hunter Chaney, Russell Chaney, and Niece Meagan Lee. Cousins, Rudene Fullard, Heather Ashton Broussard, Edmond Wilder, Tiffany Rowe, Delane Thomson, Shelly Riner, Johnny Douglas, Herbie Douglas, Joey Lee, Tammy Lee, Uncle Donnie Crews.
Mike is a graduate of Fernandina Beach High School Class of 1974. At the age of 12, Mike began working odd & end jobs hanging out at Atlantic Seafood where he would do odd jobs for Hyde Peterson and then he began working at GW Boles Grocery. As a young boy he would walk to the train tracks and the conductors would allow him to hook & unhook the trains. In the 1970’s Mike began working at the 1878 Steakhouse in Fernandina for Gene & Patsy Oviatt, where he was a meat cutter by trade. Gene & Patsy always looked on Mike as a son. When the Steakhouse closed, Mike began working for Anne Coonrod at Atlantic Seafood. In 1987, Mike left Atlantic Seafood to work at Stone Container Seminole Kraft in Jacksonville, FL. When the mill closed in the late 90’s Mike once again went to work at Atlantic Seafood for Anne Coonrod & Charlie Taylor until 2016 when he retired. Mike could filet a fish like no other. With great skill, he would cut the fish to the customer’s desire. One of the most common fish purchased was whiting. The front would yell to the back #1 or #2. Meaning head on or head off.
As a young boy Mike would travel with his father around the island looking for artifacts along the riverbanks, streets of Old Town, North and South parts of the island before the AmeliaIsland Plantation took over the South end. The first relic Mike found was when he was a baby crawling on the floor in one of the homes that his family lived in. His mother caught him just before swallowing a tiny medallion that had once been worn on the anklet of a slave.
Mike was an avid reader. He memorized the books that he read. Speaking French and using big words that he absolutely knew the meaning of. He was well versed in history, especially Civil War History. He could tell you anything and everything about Fernandina. Over the years Mike found many treasures and artifacts. Once he found a mastodon tooth on the beach. He sent it to the Smithsonian where it is today. Mike could be found walking the streets of Old Town, along the riverbanks and beach where he found a cannon ball once, still live, which was thrown in the river off the 14th Street bridge, civil war bullets, buttons from union soldiers coats, old bottles, hundreds of shark teeth, megalodon teeth, and on Tiger Island he found an Indian Jar still intact among the oyster beds dating back to the 1700’s. He was a wheeler & a dealer in the items he had found over the years trading for other items that he had his eyes on.
During the 1970’s and 1980’s Mike could also be found at Ft. Clinch as a reenactment soldier where his ability to be in third person made visitors feel they were going back in time. He was photographed many times. Once he was photographed in his Civil War uniform by famous photographer Steve Leimberg for Faces of Amelia. Mike was given a 24x30 portrait to allow Mr. Leimberg to photograph him. His likeness was captured several times in local magazines such as the Amelia Now and Islander magazine. Southern Living did a story on Fernandina in 2010 where they captured Mike’s image at Atlantic Seafood in full color.
In 1986, God gave him the greatest treasure he could possess, a son Wyatt Fenton Lee. The one true treasure he valued more than life itself. His name means “dweller of the marsh” and “little warrior” which is fitting for his love of Fernandina, and its rich history. They had many adventures along the beaches & rivers here on Amelia Island.
The family will receive friends on Monday October 30, 2023, from 5pm to 7pm for visitation. Funeral services will be Tuesday October 31, 2023, at 11am with Pastor Jackie Hayes officiating with burial at Bosque Bello Cemetery under the direction of Oxley Heard funeral Home.
If you knew Mike, you knew he was a father, hard worker, provider, honest, a gentleman, scholar, treasure hunter, historian, and friend. One of his sayings was “believe half of what you see and none of what you hear.” Fernandina has lost a true legend.
Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.
OXLEY-HEARD FUNERAL DIRECTORS