Wesley R. Lessard, Jr.

Wesley R. Lessard, Jr., 95, of Wakefield, and formerly of Warwick, died Tuesday. He was the beloved husband of Edith (Dahl) Lessard, for 67 years. Born in Warren, he was a son of the late Wesley R., Sr., and Elizabeth (St. Vincent) Lessard. He was an accomplished athlete in high school, playing football and baseball and served as Captain of these teams his senior year. A leader on and off the field, Mr. Lessard was the president of his high school class for three straight years. He was a little league coach in South Kingstown, and he was able to coach his three sons in baseball. In 1954, Mr. Lessard founded the Tase-Rite Company in Peace Dale, which he operated for many years until retiring. He served honorably in the United States Army Air Corp during World War II. He was a Charter Member of the South Kingstown Elks Lodge for 60 years. He is survived by five children, Alan Lessard and his wife Alice of Falmouth, MA, Janet Lee and her husband Thomas of Hamilton, MA, Alice Tully and her partner Charles Demty of Tiverton, Wesley C. Lessard and his wife Beth of Saunderstown, and Gary W. Lessard and his wife Patricia of South Kingstown; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and a brother, Raymond Lessard of Peace Dale. He was the brother of the late Alice Johnson and Dorothy Caswell. Visiting hours will be Friday 12- 1 pm, followed by a funeral service at 1 pm in the Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia Street, Waklefield. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the South Kingstown High School Booster Club, 215 Columbia Street, Wakefield, RI 02879.