Arlene Yeaton Gotreau

AUGUSTA – Lawrence Welk lost one of his longest viewing television fans on September 20, 2025 as Arlene Yeaton Gotreau, 102, of Augusta passed away.

She was the eldest daughter of Alvin Smiley Sr. and Kathryn Taylor Smiley was born on April 27, 1923. She was a member of the Class of 1941 at Cony High School.

Arlene married Linscott Yeaton in September 1940, he died in 1961. In 1964, she married Raymond Gotreau. They were married 52 years until his death in November 2016.

Arlene was a member of St. Michael’s Parish and former member of St. Andrews where she was always available to serve on committees. She was a club member of the Ladies of St. Ann.

During her life she held jobs as the Fountain Manager at Woolworth, Assistant Manager of S.S. Kresge, cashier at Augusta Supply, office clerk at Bates Manufacturing, and bookkeeper at Key Bank until her retirement in June 1985.

Arlene spent many hours working for the Le Club Calumet at the festivals, and in the coat room. She also worked to support the Athletic Department at Cony High School by working concession at basketball games for several years and received the Norman Merrill Award for her dedication. Road trips took her to California, and several annual trips to Canada to visit family.

In her spare time, Arlene loved to garden and read. She followed the Red Sox from spring training to the World Series. She knitted for her friends, family, and for several years the Milo Kiwanis Club received a box of hats and mittens for families in need.

Arlene was predeceased by her parents, two husbands, and two brothers, Donald Smiley and Alvin Smiley, Jr. as well as a step-son, Ronald Gotreau and her daughter Linda’s partner, Myron Long.

Arlene is survived by two daughters from her first marriage, Betty Harvey and her husband, Richard of Augusta and Linda Belisle of Hallowell; step-children: Lucille Mills and her husband, Roger of Windsor and Gerald Gotreau and his wife, Sharon of Gardiner; a step daughter-in-law, Jeannine Gotreau of Augusta; two brothers, George and Hazen Smiley and his wife Donna, all of Greene; her sister, Patricia Gelinas of Hallowell; several grandchildren, step-grandchildren and their families as well as several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends may visit from 10:30-11:30 a.m., on Saturday, September 27th at Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta where a funeral service will follow at 11:30 a.m. Burial and committal prayers will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Winthrop St., Augusta.

Condolences, stories and photos may be shared though the funeral home website at: http://www.plummerfh.com.

For those who wish to honor her memory, donations may be made to Le Calumet Club Education Foundation, PO Box 2085,

Augusta, ME, 04338.