Welman C. McFarland

Bucksport, Maine – Welman C. McFarland passed away peacefully on November 9th at the age of 96 surrounded by loving family members. He was born September 13, 1929, to Frank McFarland and Goldie Heath. He grew up on the dairy farm on the River Road in the loving care of his grandparents, Frankie "Ma" Heath and Charlie "Pa" Heath. He graduated from Bucksport High School where he played sports, and he lettered in basketball. He first met his wife Natalie Anderson at a Grange teen night. He later gave her a ride and won a.50 cent bet from his uncle Lawrence, that he could get her to go on a date. She fell for his good looks and his red hair. They recently celebrated 76 years of marriage.
He left a legacy of things built with his hands. With the mind of an entrepreneur he bought and renovated houses before flipping houses was popular. He built the home they shared as well as the shop at 71 Main street to house The Fashion Shop making a reluctant businesswoman out of Natalie.
He retired from the paper mill in 1988. Welman and Natalie spent their retirement years traveling this country and abroad with numerous wonderful friends.
Family was everything to Welman. He raised two daughters, Jean and Gwen and doted on his three grandsons, Andrew, Daniel and Sean. When he met his first great-grand son Warren this fall, he was filled with pride that his family had grown to four generations. His family will embrace many memories trips in the car singing to pass the time, going on picnics in open fields, camping vacations, family trips, waltzing and polka, the boys & papa in the workshop building "things" out of wood, playing baseball on the lawn, flying kites into trees and Styrofoam airplanes that always crashed and needed mending, riding lawn mowers around the yard and occasionally into trees, burn piles/bonfires after cutting down trees, yearly trips to the Shrine circus where the grandsons enjoyed watching Papa make cotton candy (and getting a few free samples), many games of cribbage, and so many more.
He served the Elm Street Congregational Church as a Deacon, the Bucksport School System on the School Board, the Bucksport Fire Department as a volunteer, and on the Bucksport Town Council. He was the chairman on the Board of the Seaboard Federal Credit Union for several years. He was a 50+ year member of the Masonic order and a Noble in the Anah Shrine, serving as both a Mini-biker and an Aide. He was also a member of the Royal Order of the Jesters, Court 150. Welman lived his life with generosity, kindness, and strength. He was quick with a smile, a laugh and a hug.
Besides his wife, daughters, grandsons, and great-grand son, he is survived by his sisters, Sylvia Mooney and Estelle Bowden and many nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to Liz McCann, Joyce Mooney, Terry and Karen Bowden, Charlie Colbert, Dottie George, Christine Kellet, the Bucksport Community Health Center, Centerwell Home and Healthcare, and Gentiva Hospice for their support and care.
Calling hour will be Monday, November 24, 12 – 1 followed by a Celebration of Life at 1:00 at the Elm Street Congregational Church, 31 Elm Street, Bucksport. Reception to follow at Brown Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Shrine Hospitals for Children https://bit.ly/4p0QoUt or Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation https://masoniccharitablefoundation.org Arrangements are under the care of Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home and Cremation Services Bucksport. (mitchelltweedie-young.com)