A celebration of life is planned Oct. 21 for Elmer Leland (Lee) Parker Jr., who died Aug. 31 in Crystal River, Fla., at age 78.
The service planned for Saturday will begin at noon at Plantation on Crystal River, in the Magnolia Room. Lunch will be served afterwards.
In the 1970s Parker developed Don Dee Farm & Training Center in the Ocala area. It featured five large barns and an excellent track. He raced, bred, and sold under the name of Horses Of Course, and was a longtime Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. shareholder. Some of the better horses he bred include multiple black-type winners Lotta Lovin, Sea Emperor, and Passionate Bird.
Upon his retirement to Crystal River in 2001, Parker continued to own a few horses and stayed active in their training and racing. He finally sold his last horse in 2015, after 46 years of devoted horsemanship.
