Biography

Homer Leroy Talboys was the son of Claude Arthur and Alice Mae (Crummer) Talboys.

He moved to Boyne City, Michigan with his family, where they owned a restaurant. Lee graduated from Boyne City High School and attended Michigan State University, where he also played football.

He then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Germany.

On July, 19, 1952, Lee was united in marriage to Margaret A. Tomkins in Boyne City, Michigan.

In the early years of their marriage, Lee worked with Metropolitan Life Insurance. He then went on to work at Fisher Body, and with the State of Michigan, where he administered the Deferred Compensation Program for state workers and retired in 1992.

Lee also owned the Coventry Inn in Mason, Michigan from 1971 to 1981, where he also regularly performed.

He was a member of the Mason First United Methodist Church, Mason Masonic Lodge #70 F&AM, the Scottish Rite, and the Mason Optimist Club. Lee also received the 2009 Citizen of the Year award from the Mason Area Chamber of Commerce, and led the annual lighting of the Christmas tree in downtown Mason last Friday.

Lee was best known as a musician and a songwriter. He began his musical career at the age of 15, playing his tenor saxophone with big bands around the Michigan area. All through his life, right up until his hospitalization in February, 2009, Lee entertained young and old alike, at venues all across Michigan, and most recently at the University Club at MSU.

Lee spent several years in the early 1960's touring around the United States with the Harlem Globetrotters, entertaining crowds during halftime with Don Lee Bloomquist and "Peg Leg" Bates.

Lee also co-wrote several songs with Ernie Harwell.

Over the years Lee appeared on "The Tonight Show," and appeared as the character "Homer T. Barfarkle" on "The Merv Griffin Show" and "Hee Haw."

Homer Leroy Talboys was survived by his wife, Margaret, his sons Dave and Tom, and his daughter Colleen.
- IMDb mini biography by: Rex Strother