Miriam Mays Lee Quinby known by many as Peppermint, Pepper, or Pep, has died at age 104. She was born in Plant City, Florida on June 11, 1918, the daughter of William E. Lee and Miriam Mays Lee, both from pioneer Florida families and she had a lifelong love of family and Florida history. The Lee family moved to Tampa when Pep was five, where she attended local schools, graduating from Henry B. Plant High School in 1937. She attended Florida State College for Women and the Business University of Tampa and enjoyed working for Doctors Hershel Cole and Frank Metzger.
In 1940, Pep married her high school sweetheart, the late Thomas Joseph Quinby. They moved to Orlando in 1952 and over their 68 years together, they had six children, Miriam Simpson (Evan), Valentine Klump (the late Thomas R. Klump), Lee Quinby (Matt Matsuda), Tom Quinby (Laura), the late Edmund Quinby (Rhonda Westphal), and Sydney Mabe (Donnie); 15 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Beloved by her family and friends and her many nieces and nephews, and all those who were blessed by her beautiful smile, Pep enjoyed her garden and caring for a large colony of feral cats who moved in and adopted her. She was active as a Pink Lady for 17 years and was a member of St. James Catholic Church, the Antiquarian Society, the Garden Club, the Junior League, the Rosalind Club, and the Country Club of Orlando. The family asks in lieu of flowers, please consider remembering her by donating to your favorite charity or an Animal Shelter.
Funeral services will be held at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 526 North Park Avenue, Winter Park, Florida. A viewing will start at 10:30 am, followed by Mass at 11 am and a 12:00 Noon Reception.