MYSTIC: Gertrude Evelyn Welles (known by everyone as Gert or Gertie), 101, died Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at the Mystic Healthcare Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a brief illness. She was born on July 7, 1919, in North Stonington and was just one day away from turning 102.
She grew up on a dairy farm in North Stonington, which was owned by John and Mary Wilkinson. The family farm was noted for the quality of its milk and products, but it was how they treated others, that gained the respect of all that surrounded them. Of note, so no one would go hungry, this family shared its garden produce with neighbors during the depression.
Most of the brothers and sisters went on to raise families of their own, and the ones who didn’t still were blessed with friends that are considered family. The last of thirteen brothers and sisters to die (having been predeceased by sisters Irene Johnson last November 27th and Mary Barber on May 29th of this year),
Gert portrayed the same giving spirit right up to her departure from this world. Even though they are now spread across the country, the cousins remain close. As a teenager, Gertrude pedaled milk from her family farm to markets and homes in Westerly. She enjoyed regaling her experiences, in what was then, a male dominated world. In her later years she would entertain for hours, telling humorous stories about dogs, and customers, and incidents that happened along her route. During the WWII years, Gert was active on the all-women’s crew of the North Stonington Volunteer Fire Department, only to lose that job upon the return of servicemen after the war.
While settling into her home and raising a family in the Old Mystic section of Groton, she remained active in the community. She enjoyed making arts and crafts with friends and neighbors. She taught Sunday School lessons at the First Baptist Church in Old Mystic and brought humor as she worked the polls in the local voting districts. For many years, Gert coordinated use of the Old Mystic Fire District Community Hall (Former 12th District School). She always had a menagerie of poultry and animals and enjoyed the neighborhood kids who would line up to help with their care. She would often bring newly born animals to area elementary schools and nursing homes for the enjoyment of students and residents. Not only did Gert propagate plants from her family home in North Stonington, but she became adept at raising plants from all over. Soon most visitors in Old Mystic would leave after a gratifying conversation and a trunk full of slips, cuttings, and roots. She was sought after, for her prowess at storytelling, a trait shared by all of her brothers and sisters. Family gatherings were specially loved.
Gertrude is survived by sons, Peter B. Welles (Mystic, CT) and William A. Welles (Mystic, CT), son-in-law Richard A Ellithorpe (Woodlawn, TN), as well as a number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, A. William Welles, who passed in 1989, and daughter, Evelyn A Ellithorpe in 2018
Burial will be private, for the family, in the Welles Family Cemetery. A celebration of life is being planned for a later date where family and friends can share their fond memories of Gert.
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