Wells River, VT-  On June 1, 2017, Leona Waterman passed away at the Grafton County Nursing Home, with her son, Don, by her side.

Lee was born in Rehoboth, MA, on September 25, 1917, to Wilfred and Mary Louise (Antayr) Brousseau.  She was a graduate of Taunton High School, Class of 1935.  On October 22, 1938, she married Asa Waterman.  Together they dairy farmed and operated a grain dealership with Eastern States Farmer's Exchange.

In 1961, they moved to Woodsville, NH, from Rehoboth and continued farming on the "Old Spooner Farm."

Lee was active in her community in Rehoboth as the president of the PTA, a member of the Rehoboth Congregational Church, and the Anawan Grange.  Locally, she was active as a member of the Wells River Congregational Church, UCC and served as president of the Women's Fellowship.  She was president of the Cottage Hospital Auxiliary.  For a time, she was the librarian at the Woodsville Library.  As a volunteer, she read to residents at the Glencliff Home and was a 4-H leader and Cub Scout leader, assisting the children with sewing projects.

Lee was an avid quilter.  She enjoyed traveling to Europe with the North Country Chorus.  As a life-long learner, she continued to enjoy "talking books."

She was predeceased by her husband, Asa Waterman on October 24, 1981; an infant sister who died at birth; five brothers, Larry, Louis, Philip, Omer, and Ernie Brousseau.

She was also predeceased by a lifelong friend, Maurice Goff of Rehoboth.  Maurice and Lee shared time together after the death of both of their spouses until 2007 when  Maurice died.  The Goff's were an extended family who considered Lee as one of their own-taking her out to eat occasionally, spending time in New York City, sending flowers at holiday time, and attending the famous Goff Family clam bakes in Rehoboth.  The Goff Family were true friends.

She is survived by five sons, Asa Waterman, Jr. and wife Patricia of Waco, TX, Robert Waterman and wife Linda of Bridport, VT, Earl Waterman and former wife Chris, of North Carolina, Donald Waterman and wife Judi of Wells River, and Bruce Waterman and companion Dara Myers of Austin, TX; fourteen grandchildren, Kristy and Todd Mantz, Asa III and Nicola Waterman, Lance and Kimberly Waterman, Roger and Cheri Waterman, Daniel and Amanda Waterman, Craig Waterman and partner Kate Madden, Jeremy and Emily Waterman, Dana and Keith Seeley, Leslie Waterman and Joe Williams, Jon Bouffard and Liz Paterson, Adrian Waterman, Olivia Waterman, Taylor Deffebrio and Shelby Deffebrio; twenty-six great grandchildren; five sisters, Edna Bryan of Lewiston, ME, Olive Prunier of Oxford, MA, Cathy Manning of Brentwood, NH,

Frances Pimental of Hampton Falls, NH, and Doris Brousseau of Wendall Depot, MA; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Ma, Lee, or Grandma Lee to the hundreds of people whose lives she touched, has left a bit of sadness in their hearts.  It is through the happy memories that our tears often time turn to smiles.  To paraphrase Abe Lincoln, " Perfect relief is not possible, except with time.  You can not now realize that you will ever feel better…The memory of your dear

Mother, instead of an agony, will yet be a sad sweet feeling in your heart, of a purer and holier sort than you have known before."

There will be a calling hour from 10-11 AM on Saturday, June 24, with a memorial service immediately following at 11 AM at the Wells River Congregational Church, UCC, 76 Main Street, Wells River, with Rev. Kathryn Maver officiating.

Burial will be in Rehoboth Village Cemetery, Rehoboth, MA, at the convenience of the family.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Baldwin Memorial Library, 22 Main Street North, Wells River, VT 05081.

The obituary was written with the assistance of Lee's two granddaughters, Dana Seeley and Leslie Waterman.