Thomas "Tommy" Stanley Wellard

Tommy Wellard, 78, passed away at home, on December 2, 2013, with his family by his side.

He was born March 10, 1935 on a cold and wintery day at the General Hospital in Pocatello, Idaho. His parents were Daniel R. Wellard and Amy May Stewart Wellard. He was the 8th child of 13 children. They lived in a small two room house on a small farm in Chubbuck. There were now 11 family members in that small house so dad bought 4 acres and built a basement house with two bedrooms a living room and kitchen. No bathroom in the house so they all had to go outside to the outhouse.

He was an active member of the LDS Church all of his life. His mother made sure they were all clean, dressed and off to church every Sunday which mostly they walked two miles. His chores were to tend and milk the cows and help with the hay. He was close to his Brother Howard and his Sister Doris as they were just older than him and help take charge of him as he was quite a mischievous child. For fun they played baseball in the neighbors pasture, swung from a tree and dropped into the canal, rolled each other in old tires, and rode bikes. He had lots of good friends that lived on their lane. They would walk into town (about 4 miles) to the Rialto theatre where he saw his first movies of Hop-along-Cassidy, Roy Rodgers and Dale Evan, Gene Autry, Red Rider and many more. He set bowling pins at the local bowling alley, King Pin, on West Center to make enough money to buy him a bike. It was a sad time for the family when his two year old brother, Hal, died of spinal meningitis.

The family moved to McCammon, Idaho in 1945, when Tommy was 10 years old as their family now totaled 13. His Dad purchased a 40 acre farm so there was always plenty to do for all the kids. We had a horse, cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, and lots of fruit trees. (for Doris) Our home consisted of two bedrooms, front room, Kitchen, back porch and no bathroom. We still had to use an outhouse, We barely had electricity as one light bulb hung down from the ceiling in each room. The three boys slept in a basement dirt bedroom that was so moist they all had colds so Dad and Ernie poured cement walls and a floor. We always had a large garden and even though this was in the hard times after the war we always had plenty to eat. Mother even fed our relatives a lot of the time because we always had lots of company.

Tommy loved living in McCammon. He made such good friends. We had an old model T Ford that the boys would always have to go out and crank it to get it started. As kids, we always had to help around the farm and do our chores before we could play. Dad worked in Ironwork and was gone from early morning until late at night so the chores were done by the kids during the week.

McCammon had a school that comprised of grades 1-12. In about 1951, they combined the 9-12 grade of Inkom, McCammon, Lava, and Arimo and they all went to school in McCammon. That is where he met his high school sweetheart Neva Bell. They were married in 1953 in Lava Hot Springs. They had 5 children, Craig, Carla, Terri, Rusty (deceased) and Tracy.

They lived in Lava for awhile where Tommy worked at the local Theatre. He worked many different jobs and eventually went into Ironwork with his Dad. Tommy never graduated form high school so he and his daughter Carla went back to school together and got their GED'S in 1973. He and Neva took their family and were sealed in the LDS Temple on March 20, 1971. He loved his church callings and he and Neva went to church together and also the temple regularly.

They loved to bowl as a family, they square danced and they traveled a lot. One of his favorite places to go was to Yuma, Arizona as his brother Jim and family lived there. Later his sister Doris and her family were in Arizona so another reason for their trips. They took a two week cruise to the Hawaiian Island with nephew Dennis Wellard and his wife Cassie.

He loved his family and spent many hours going to baseball games with Craig, Rusty, and Tracy. They loved to spearfish and duck hunt as they all loved the outdoors. He, his sons and some grandson, went to Arizona hunting pigs with his nephews Randy and Kelly. Some of his most treasured memories were hunting, fishing, and golfing with his brother Danny, his cousin Clark and his Arizona trips. He went to Alaska fishing with his nephew Denny and wife Cassie.

He had been badly hurt on his Ironwork job so his life took a different turn and he worked many jobs after that to help keep his family doing the things they liked to do. Neva always worked and was the rock for Tommy.

Their son Rusty died at 17 a very devastating time for the family. They decided to make a change and they bought a business in McCammon, which comprised of a service station, laundromat, trailer court and motel. They operated it for about 10 years. He, Neva and Tracy loved helping and working with the people in McCammon. He met people from all over the world while they owned that business.

In 1985, they sold their business and moved back to Pocatello purchasing their home on Appaloosa where they have lived for 28 years. He has battled sickness so much the last 15 years of his life. His faithful companion, Neva, has stood by his side and helped him so he could still travel and spend time with his families. I can't think of anyone (except Job) that had endured what Tommy has endured over the last 15 years.

His brothers and sisters and Neva's family have been so important to him over the years. He loved all his brothers and sister in laws as though they were his own family.

He is survived by his wife Neva, sons, Craig Wellard, Pocatello; Tracy (Deborah) Wellard, Boise, Idaho; and their families, daughters, Carla (Paul) Nestler, Pocatello, Idaho; Terri (Mark) Wright, Boise, Idaho; 19 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. Siblings, Edna Smith, Salt Lake City, Utah; Aleen (Rece) Sorensen, Pocatello; Joyce Warner, Pocatello, Shirley Warner, Boise, Doris Liljenquist, Pocatello; Danny Wellard, Pocatello; Linda (Jerry) Chivers, Pocatello; Larry Tripp, Arimo; Sister-in-laws LaVon Wellard, Arizona; Hilda Wellard, Pocatello; Neva's siblings, Barbara Christensen, Pocatello; Kay Brower, McCammon; Judy Scott, Soda Springs; Terry (Rea) Bell, Pocatello; Richard (Sharon) Bell, Pocatello;

He was preceded in death by his parents, their son Rusty, granddaughter, Natalie (Nestler) Rapp, a granddaughter Amanda Wellard, brothers, Hal, Howard, Jim and one sister Beverly. In laws Rohda Rich, June Fowler, Leonard Bell and Joyce Stone.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Highland L.D.S. Third Ward Chapel (Butte & Hiskey) with Bishop Ted Schow officiating. The family will receive friends Friday evening Dec. 6, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel, 510 N. 12th Ave. and on Saturday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Restlawn Memorial Gardens.