Clayton Earl Wells, 72, a lifelong resident of Waterbury, died at Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin on Friday morning, Sept. 13, 2019.
He was born in Hardwick Aug. 2, 1947, son of Stanley E. and Florence (Eastman) Wells. He was previously married to Sandra (Richardson) Hennessey. On Feb. 12, 1988, Clayton married Beverly Miller in Waterbury Center.
Clayton attended Waterbury schools and Harwood Union High School. Enlisting in the U.S. Army, he served his country during the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1969. After his honorable discharge, he joined the Vermont Army National Guard, retiring in 2007.
During his service with the Guard, Clayton was also an officer with the Waterbury Village Police Department for several years and co-owned and operated South End Sunoco in Waterbury with his wife, Bev, his son Kevin and stepdaughter Sherrie James. He retired after a stroke.
He was a member of the Harry N. Cutting American Legion Post 59 and VFW Post 10034, both of Waterbury; the Waterbury Center Volunteer Fire Department; and the Disabled American Veterans. In his leisure time, he enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons, playing cards, spending time at his camp on Camel’s Hump, and, in his younger years, racing snowmobiles. Clayton’s outgoing personality and gift for conversation nurtured his joy of visiting with folks and created many friendships over the years.
Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Beverly Wells of Waterbury; his son, Scott Wells and wife Angela of Waterbury Center; his daughter-in-law, Joanne Wells of Waterbury Center; his stepchildren, Pamela James and husband Andrew, Sherrie James and husband Steven, and Richard Ravelin and his fiancée Emilee Scott, all of Waterbury Center; his grandchildren, Cody and Kerry Wells, Jacob and Clayton Wells, Jennifer James, Casandra and Christopher James, Asa Woodard, Cameron Ravelin, Emma Ravelin, Piper Ravelin, Richard Ravelin II and Asia Scott; a sister, Elaine Sumner and her husband Stanley of Montpelier; a brother, Nathan Wells and his wife Mary of Barton; and nieces, nephews and extended family.
A son, Kevin Wells, died earlier, as did a brother, Nathaniel Wells.
The funeral was held Wednesday at Wesley United Methodist Church in Waterbury. Burial followed in the Maple Street Cemetery in Waterbury Center.
Donations in his memory would be appreciated to the Waterbury American Legion, P.O. Box 417, Waterbury, VT 05676, or to the Waterbury Area Senior Center, 14 Stowe St., Waterbury, VT 05676.
Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury is assisting the family. To send online condolences: perkinsparker.com or the funeral home’s Facebook page.
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