WESTFIELD – Donald I. McLean, (1939-2023) husband of Joyce Piper McLean, died Saturday, December 2nd, 2023 after a long illness. Donald was born February 3rd, 1939 in Lexington MA, but while he was a young boy, his family moved to first Agawam and then to West Springfield. Early on his father would pick him up after school and take him to his workplace to put together lawnmowers and other related equipment. He grew up working at the family business, Allen Lawnmower and eventually became part owner. He was a hardworking man, who always did that “little extra” to please his customers. Don spent weekends with the Army Reserves for many years while also meeting his wife “to be” Edie Yarmac at Friendly’s and marrying her in 1965. He helped build his house in Feeding Hills where his two daughters Susan and Kathy were born. As a family, they visited Disney many times and also purchased a Cape house in S. Yarmouth, where they spent their summers. Donald’s real love was cars and NASCAR. He and Edie spent many years attending Daytona races and he and his friends visited many other racetracks. His love of cars led to purchasing both a 1960 red and white Corvette and a 1969 Camaro pace car. He and Edie traveled to many countries on business trips until Edie died tragically in 1998. Donald was devastated and later incurred a major heart attack.
Several years went by and in 2004 he met Joyce Piper, and they were a couple for 17 years, traveling and enjoying life together. In October of 2021 they were married in the First Baptist Church in West Springfield (Don’s church) and eventually went on their honeymoon to Alaska. Unfortunately, Don’s dementia became much more of a struggle and after a few years, he spent time at both Armbrook Village and the Atrium. His last days were spent at Baystate Hospital where he died fighting an infection and advanced dementia. He will be sadly missed by his wife Joyce, their families and their friends.
Don was predeceased by his parents, Eugene and Clara McLean, his first wife Edie (Yarmac) McLean, his brother Albert McLean and a sister Mabel Lombard.
He leaves his loving daughters Kathy McLean, and Susan Alves and her husband John and their children, Tyler, Dalton, Paige and Lenny, a brother Eugene “Sonny” McLean and his wife Anne and family, a sister Marcia Duval, a niece Clara and Patrick Rowan and their children Tony and Maria (Nathan), and niece Cindy (Kevin) Sears and their daughter Elizabeth, his devoted wife Joyce Piper McLean, stepdaughter Karen (Rick) George and their sons, Seth, Nathan and Andrew and stepson Jeffrey (Tracy) Piper and their sons Dustin and Tyler.
Visiting hours will be held for Don on Wednesday, December 13th, 2023 from 10-11 a.m. in the Firtion Adams Funeral Service, 76 Broad Street, Westfield, followed by a Funeral Home Service at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery, Western Avenue, Westfield. www.firtionadams.com
