Exclusive Brethren Suicide - Lee Wilson

The content of the letter that Lee received from Bruce D Hales is unknown. Lee's subsequent suicide was, however, completely unexpected.

A family friend suggests that Lee felt he was trapped between his marriage and the stark requirements of Exclusive Brethren doctrine regarding Separation. It is conjectured that Lee believed he could at least ensure his sons were brought up in the Brethren, even if he was unable to return.

"Lee hung himself. He would have been about 27 years of age."

"One likely reason is that then his parents, Rick and Dolly Wilson, would take the two boys (never formally adopted by his new wife) and raise them in the brethren. If Lee couldn't make it back to the "only right place", at least his boys would be raised there."

After his death, Lee's widow felt that she could not take care of 4 children by herself, and allowed Lee's parents to take the 2 young boys. They were aged about 5 yrs and 7 yrs. They were baptized by their grandparents and as a result, became immediately established as members of the Exclusive Brethren.

If this had been Lee's plan, he accomplished it by sacrificing his own life. It is unthinkable that Lee would remove himself from existence if there had been any hope that he could take his sons into the place that he still felt was the "right position". It therefore follows that the letter from Bruce Hales somehow removed all hope from Lee that he could accompany his sons back into the Exclusive Brethren.