Burial Date
Obituaries » LEOTA M. MCLAM
MCLAM, LEOTA M., 88, of Waits River, died October 13, at Starr Farm Nursing Center in Burlington. She was born in East Topsham on April 17, 1925, the daughter of Leslie and Ruby (Colby) Welch. She attended school in East Corinth and graduated from Bradford Academy in 1943. She enlisted in the U.S. Navy on May 7, 1945, signing up for the duration of World War II. She served in Washington, D.C., as seaman first class and was honorably discharged July 23, 1946. Prior to enlisting in the Navy, she was a volunteer as an airplane spotter with the Aircraft Warning Service, keeping watch for enemy planes entering U.S. airspace. She married Robert L. McLam, of Topsham, on Nov. 25, 1950. In 1953 they built McLam’s General Store in Waits River. They operated the store until 1970. Robert predeceased her on July 21, 2013, also at Starr Farm. She was also employed at Bowen Hunter Bobbin Mill in East Corinth, and People’s Bank in Barre. After selling the store in 1970, she became a full-time housewife and homemaker. Her pride and joy at home were her flower gardens, family gatherings, cooking, freezing and canning garden vegetables, having her granddaughters stay with her and Robert during their summer school vacations, and performing do-it-yourself projects around the house and with her daughters at their homes. She also enjoyed spending time with her brother Victor and sister-in-law Evelyn, who lived right next door, and she was always very close to their children. Leota is survived by her three daughters, Judy Cheney and husband Steve, of St. George, Lois Cote and husband Armand, of Burlington, and Susan McLam, of Orange; three granddaughters; as well as several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father; mother; two brothers, Victor and Lawrence Welch; a very special sister-in-law, Evelyn Welch; and nephew Jerry Welch.