Wayne Gleason, born to Elsie and Harry Gleason on August 28, 1944, in Bellingham, a Chehalis Valley native who dedicated his life to serving veterans and his community, died April 4, 2025, in Aberdeen, after a long and stubbornly resisted decline in his health. Wayne is survived by his brother, Gary Gleason, and sister-in-law, Karen; his nephew Brian Gleason and niece-in-law Nicky, along with their son Connor; his nephew David Gleason and great-niece Monique Dudley; his dear friend Darlene Powers, as well as numerous cousins and their families He attended public school in Chehalis, graduating in 1962 from WF West High School. He went on to attend Centralia Community College, progressing on to complete his formal education at Washington State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Science on August 5th, 1966. In High School he was an active and award-winning member in the 4H program, accumulating a drawer full of Fair ribbons and first-place presentations, a testament to his early dedication and belief in hard work and community contribution – values that would shape his life. His academic pursuits concluded, a new chapter unfolded when, on his 22nd birthday in August of 1966, Wayne received his draft notice.Wayne was inducted into the Army on November 14th, 1968 and served the term of his enlistment in Oakland, CA in support of those deployed to the Vietnam War. He earned several commendations during this time, and was honorably discharged on February 1st, 1973. He entered the first of his civilian careers while still in California, providing financial services to veterans as an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Later, moving closer to home, he transferred to a DVA office in Salem, Oregon. He was proud of the work he did for his fellow veterans, carefully preserving thank you notes and formal commendations he received throughout his time with DVA. Wayne went on to provide financial services to farmers in eastern Oregon and communities along the Columbia River. In the early 1980's he returned to the Chehalis Valley and worked agricultural and forestry jobs, as well as helping his father on the family farm until it passed out of the family's hands in the late 1980's. Wayne also spent time working as a dealer in local casinos as he prepared for his retirement. During his retirement Wayne served his church family, spent time with friends and family all over western Washington, and particularly enjoyed his cruise-line adventures. A few years after his military service, Wayne sought out and found a spiritual home with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Though his nephews liked to call him "Elder Wayne," he consistently downplayed any sense of formality, preferring to be seen as a brother among his friends, family, and fellow church members. For much of his adult life, he was an active member, often holding Temple Credentials that enabled him to offer practical support to those in need. In his later years, as his health declined, the church community reciprocated this care and support. Roughly coincidental with setting his roots into religious life, Wayne also found a home in the A.A. community. He was very much the opposite of anonymous in his praise of the program and credited the support he received and the assistance he was able to reciprocate in turn as being key for walking a less steep, satisfying and sober path through the years. Immersed in the farming community and grange life of his youth, Wayne developed a strong philosophy of what constituted a right, honorable, and effective way to provide for oneself and support the community. He believed, much like the neighbors and family who collaborated on harvests and projects in the valley, that fulfilling one's obligations to any team and those they served was essential. From these valued connections, he amassed a rich knowledge of the people, places, and livelihoods of rural Washington. To travel with Wayne along a country road, from the Cascades to the coast, was to hear the stories of those who lived on the land and the work they did. With his passing, a vast tome of irreplaceable knowledge regarding this rural landscape has been lost. He was a practical man, preferring to help others via action and spent much of his retirement years offering help and rides to friends and family spread all over Washington. He was also a man of singular humor, treasuring a trove of one-liners to be deployed at every opportunity. His kindness and competence in raising and caring for animals was shown to large and small. In his later years he distilled his competency in rearing livestock into an absolute adoration of cats, two of which survive him - Bobby, now with his brother, and Barnie of Aberdeen. There will be an opportunity to bid Wayne goodbye on Saturday, April 26th, from Noon to 2pm in the chapel at Newell-Hoerling's Mortuary, located at 205 W Pine St. in Centralia. It will be an open-casket affair, with a short service and the opportunity for friends and family to relate memories of their time with Wayne. If you are unable to attend, Newell-Hoerling is maintaining a memorial website where you can send condolences, share memories and upload pictures. To those moved to send gifts, Wayne had a clear preference to have donations made to charity in his name. It particularly pleased him to have livestock sponsored in his name via Heifer International. His family has maintained a small farm's worth of critters across the globe who can claim Wayne as their Patron.