GLOUCESTER: Wellesley C. “Welly” Eastman, Sr., 85, of 65 Bond Street died Sunday evening, April 5, 2009 in the Beverly Hospital following a brief illness. He was the husband of Yolande “Marie” (Butters) Eastman.
Born in White River Junction, Vermont on April 22, 1923 he was the son of the late Harry and Ruby (Stark) Eastman. He had resided in Gloucester since childhood and had attended Gloucester public schools. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.
By the age of thirteen, he was working along the Gloucester waterfront, first delivering ice and later he became a fisherman aboard numerous vessels including the Irma Virginia and the St. Joseph.
Welly was employed as a lumberman for the Building Center for over thirty years, having retired in 1985. Following retirement, he began painting houses for another two decades before ultimately retiring. He loved spending time at the farm house he and Marie owned in Fryeburg, Maine.
In addition to his wife of sixty-four years, he is survived by three children, Wellesley C., Jr.,husband of Catherine (Schmorrow) Eastman, Joan M., wife of Chris Larsen, Terry J., wife of Michael McLeod, Sr., seven grandchildren, Ann-Marie, wife of Michael Luster, Jenifer J., wife of James Marshall, Aaron W., husband of Sarah Eastman, Wendy Larsen, Laurie Larsen, Kristie, wife of Marc Nicastro and Kyle Larsen, Michael M. McLeod, Jr., D.O, husband of Angela Yerdon McLeod, DO, Shilo M., wife of Edward Abell, John “Jack” LeVie, companion of Agnes Spinola and Jamie, husband of Molly LeVie, fifteen great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his daughter, Judith A. LeVie, and two brothers, Harry Eastman, Jr. and Kenneth Eastman.
His funeral service will be held on Thursday morning in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9 – 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Cape Ann Animal Aid, 260 Main St., Gloucester, MA 01930. Interment will be held in the Beechbrook Cemetery.