GOUVERNEUR – Leland "Lee" D. Hendrick, age 80, of Gouverneur, passed away on Friday, March 12, 2010 at the E.J. Noble Hospital.

Leland was born on August 12, 1929 in Hermon. He was a son of the late Clyde and Elsie (McCarthy) Hendrick. He attended the Kent’s Corners school in Hermon and graduated from the Hermon High School.

Mr. Hendrick served his country in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1952 and had received the Korean Service Medal with two service stars and the Korean Presidential Citation.

Lee married Margaret E. King on January 28, 1961. The couple has lived all of their married lives in Gouverneur. Mr. Hendrick was a self employed electrician, operating his business with his friend and co-worker, Ronnie Lynde, at Lee’s Mobile Electric, for the past 49 years.

He truly loved his work in the community, welcoming "electrical call-outs" whenever they came. His second passion was flying. Lee was a long time pilot and opened Hendrick’s Airfield on the Scotch Settlement Road in Gouverneur 36 years ago after tiring of driving to the Ogdensburg Airport. Lee taught both of his sons how to fly and has proudly seen several professional pilots begin their careers at his airfield. In his free time Mr. Hendrick also enjoyed riding his motorcycle.

His survivors include his wife, Margaret, and his two sons, Michael and Donna of Aiken, SC and Mark of Fowler and Jersey City, NJ. He is also survived by five brothers, Reginald, Russell and his wife Ann, Roger and his wife Arlene, Jim and his wife Shirley, Tom and his wife Ione; and two sisters, Patricia and her husband C. Richard Roe and Mavis Hendrick.

He is predeceased by a brother and his wife, Robert and Ruth; a sister and her husband, Virginia and Harold Aldrich; and three sisters-in-law, Ruth, Helen and Joyce.

Calling hours will be at French Funeral Home, Gouverneur on Sunday, March 14th from 2-5pm.  His memorial service will be held on Monday, March 15th at 11:00 am at the funeral home with Rev. William Hart officiating. 

There will be a Celebration of Life gathering at the Casablanca Restaurant on Monday from 12-3pm.  Donations in memory of Leland may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 7, East Syracuse, NY 13057.