Lee Kim Chye and family (Bukit Brown)

Lee Kim Chye was the proprietor of the Straits Hiring Company and also a shareholder for the Sze Hai Tong Bank. Lee Kim Chye passed away at his residence at No. 101 Pasir Panjang Road on 8 May 1930 at the age of 58. He is survived by his widow, 4 sons; Lee Chuan Teck, Lee Chuan Chiang, Lee Chuan Heng, Lee Chuan Guan, 7 daughters (from the tomb, Lee Thoon Neo, Lee Poh Neo, Lee Theen Neo, Lee Geck Neo, Lee Chwee Neo), 3 son-in-laws; Oh Chin Siew, Tan Peng Juay and Lim Tiang Chan and 6 grandchildren. 101 Pasir Panjang was known as "Chantek Villa".  

There was a posting where Mr. Lee Kim Chye and Bros. thank their friends and staff of Messrs. Graham & Co. Ltd. who attended the funeral of their mother Madam Ngo Buay Neo on 17 November 1920. On an earlier article dated 10 November 1920, it was mentioned the remains of the late Madam Ngoh Siew Lan, wife of Mr. Lee Peck Keng, mother of Messrs. Lee Kim Seng, Lee Kim Bee, Lee Kim Choo and Lee Kim Chye and mother-in-law of Messrs. Toh Beng Poh and Ong Seng Kit will be removed from her residence, 92-4 Neil Road to Alexandra Road Cemetery for interment. (Thanks to reader Johno who made the association in the comment section). Lee Kim Chye's father is likely Lee Peck Keng, J.P. Labuan. Lee Peck Keng passed away in the same month on 27 November 1920 at 92-4 Neil Road. He was 65. 

Lee Kim Chye is buried in Hill 3 Division A, plot 158.

Tomb of Lee Kim Chye

Wife: Madam Chan Siew Choo alias Chan Siew Neo

Madam Chan Siew Choo alias Chan Siew Neo passed away on 30th January 1944 at the age of 57. She is survived by 2 sons; Lee Chuan Chiang, Lim Kim Chwee, 2 daughters; Nyonya Lee, Alice and 1 grandson, Lim Giap Lip. It is interesting to note that the calender year reflected on the tomb is 2604 (following the Japanese Koki Calender ). There was an article in the Syonan Shimbun which list her last address as No. 41 Craig Road. Her tomb at Hill 3 Division A, plot 150 is next to Lee Kim Chye's tomb.

Tomb of Chan Siew Choo 

Beautiful decorated tiles of Madam Chan Siew Choo

Secondary wife challenged legality of will
From a court case in 1935 contesting the legality of Lee Kim Chye's will, we get some insight into his family story. Lee Kim Chye's death and will was called to question when his secondary wife, Koh Gek Tiang (plaintiff ) brought the motion to challenge the legality of that said will (executed on 15 March 1923) to the Colony Supreme Court. Defending the claim was Chan Siew Choo (wife of Lim Kim Chye) and executrix of will. The courts noted that Lee Kim Chye was a Straits born Chinese who lived in 101 Pasir Panjang Road who died on 30th May 1930 at his residence. He died with a number of movable and immovable property.  Lee Kim Chye was said to have took on Koh Gek Tiang as his secondary wife on 9 November 1925 at the Chinese Temple in Telok Ayer. From their union, they had 3 children (a boy; Lee Chuang Heng and 2 girls; Lee Mee See, Lee Jay See). The plaintiff contended that the will should be revoked by this marriage and probate should be revoked, set aside, recalled or cancelled. It is from the legal proceedings, we know that Koh Gek Tiang (daughter of Koh San Tee) who at the age of 18 first got married and from that union had a son. Her husband then passed on and her parents made arrangement for her to remarry. Koh Gek Tiang was 31 years old when she married Lee Kim Chye. The marriage was witness by her mother and Gan Kim Bee (her eldest sister-in-law.) Other evidence was mentioned in the well documented case included the points that Lee Kim Chye had another concubine by the name of Tan Sin Wah (since 1916) and finally that Koh Gek Tiang was present during the funeral ceremony and there was even a photograph of her and children present during the wake. To summarise the final verdict, the Supreme Court Judge, Mr. Justice Mills gave the following affirmative answer on the following 3 points:
1.  Kok Gek Tiang is the lawful widow of Lee Kim Chye (deceased)
2. Kok Gek Tiang was the lawful wife of the said Lee Kim Chye subsequent to the making of the will, dated March 15, 1923.
3. The said will dated March 13, 1923 was thereby revoked.

Some of the evidence given during court 

Chantek Villa, No 101 Pasir Panjang Road

The residence of Lee Kim Chye was at 101 Pasir Panjang Road was coined as "Chantek Villa" (Chantek means Pretty in Malay). The advertisement date 1931 below by the auctioneers Ching Keng Lee & Co. Ltd showed the extend of wealth that Lee Kim Chye had which included teak wood furniture and 2 cars, ( a four seater "Baby Austin" and a 5 seater "Standard Coventry"), plants, etc. The 99 years' leasehold residential  seaside land house of 26,953 sq ft house was eventually put on sale in 1931 and again in 1934.

Chantek Villa

References

Domestic Occurrences. (1930, May 13). Malayan Tribune, page 8
Advertisement. (1931, June 13). Malayan Tribune, page 14
Marriage Problem In Singapore Will Suit Interesting Point Of Law Raised. (1935, March 27). Malayan Tribune, page 12
Secondary Marriages by Chinese Man's former will made void. (1935, December 3). Malayan Tribune, page 15
Advertisement. (1944, September 8). Syonan Shimbun, page 2