Leroy H. Yereance, 92, of Newcastle, formerly of Boothbay Harbor and Southport, passed away peacefully on the morning of Feb. 8 at St. Andrews Village in Boothbay Harbor. Born on Dec. 19, 1925 in Hackensack, N.J., he was the son of Leroy and Marie Yereance.
He was a graduate of Woodridge High School, class of 1943. He first met his wife in kindergarten; they went through school together.
During WWII, Sgt. Yereance served as ball turret gunner on a B-24 with the Army Air Corps based in Italy and flew 21 missions over Rhineland, Po Valley, North Apennines, and the Balkans. He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal, Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the American Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon with four bronze service stars.
While attending a mutual friend’s house party, he met up with his childhood friend Muriel. They left the party together, and spent the next 70-plus years as a couple, marrying in 1946 in the Presbyterian Church in Woodridge.
He and his wife moved from New York with their family to the Boothbay region in 1976 and owned and operated Cash and Carry convenience store on Townsend Avenue in Boothbay Harbor, opposite Seagate. The Yereances spent many winters in Florida where they enjoyed walking the beaches and sailing. They were active members of the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club for many years and attended the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor. They took great pride in the fact that they had a close-knit family, which got together often to celebrate holidays, birthdays and enjoy summer cookouts.
Muriel predeceased him on Sept. 19, 2016 at Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta.
He is survived by sister Gloria McCormick; children, Ken Yereance of Jefferson, Susan Morley and husband Joel of Edgecomb, Carol Heaberlin and husband Rick of Newcastle, Elayne Trotta of Pensacola, Fla., and David Yereance and wife Lisa of Riverview, Fla.; grandchildren, Andrew Morley and wife Sarah, Christina and Sarah C. Morley, Jason Yereance and partner Danielle Glidden, Scott Yereance and wife Katie, Bryan Heaberlin and wife Melissa, Melinda Jones and husband Mike, Nicholas Heaberlin, Richard Trotta and wife Michelle, Nicole and Lindsey Trotta, Ashley Panagakos and husband Nicholas, Taylor, Austin and Sam Yereance, and Seth Adams; great-grandchildren, Hannah and Nicholas Morley, Luke Morley, Griffin Yereance, Daniel and Ellison Trotta, Nicholas, Nayden and Nason Heaberlin, Rick-Wyatt Jones, Douglas, Jacob, Joshua and Skylar McMillan and Cole and Noah Heaberlin; great-great-grandchildren, Ayrianna and Tucker McMillan; and several nieces and nephews.
A military service will be held at 1 p.m., Sat., Feb. 17 at the American Legion, Industrial Park Rd., Boothbay. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Legion, Post 36, PO Box 874, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.
Condolences, and messages for his family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
