Walter A. LeClair, whose love of birds and the outdoors showed in his wood carvings, died Monday, May 22, 2017.

Mr. LeClair, 87, lived near Altamont with his wife, Mary. They were married for nearly 65 years.

Mr. LeClair worked as a maintenance supervisor at SUNY Albany for about 21 years before retiring in 1986. Before that, he worked on maintenance at the New York State Hospital for Incipient Pulmonary Tuberculosis, commonly known as Ray Brook, in the Adirondacks.

Mrs. LeClair said she met her husband in Maine, where she grew up. He was stationed at an air base in Bangor. She was in college. They got married on June 4, 1952.

The couple raised four sons, all of whom live within walking distance or a short drive. The closest is Jamey, the youngest son, who lives across the street from his parents’ home.

Mr. LeClair was born in Jay, N.Y. He served stateside in the Air Force during the Korean War, his wife said.

Mrs. LeClair said her husband grew up loving hunting and fishing. His fondness for nature and wildlife gave life to the wood carvings he made — ducks, loons, cardinals, herons.

He sold some pieces, but kept many others, which are on display in rooms throughout the home. He was part of a weekly woodcarvers’ group that had members around the Capital Region.

In a 2008 Enterprise story that described his home as “an aviary of wooden birds,” Mr. LeClair said his hobby had kept him busy for 18 years.

He was a fan of basswood because it was easy to carve and paint. He used a tiny burning tool to etch feathers and make marks on his bird carvings.

“For me, art is good therapy,” Mr. LeClair said in an interview then. “There’s always another project I want to do and I don’t have enough time to do it all. It keeps me young.”

He added: “When you get to the point that you know what you want to do, practice, practice, practice.”

Mr. LeClair had a workshop in his basement, where several of his carvings still sit.

As siblings and in-laws filled the house on Tuesday, preparing boards of photos of Mr. LeClair for a tribute, son Steve recalled a last joke from his father.

Mr. LeClair left him a note. The message: Upon my death, you don’t need to return any of my tools.

****

Walter A. LeClair was born Nov. 23, 1929, the son of George and Mary LeClair.

He is survived by his wife, Mary (née Cunningham), and four sons — Scott (Marlene), Philip (Dawn), Steve (Claudia) and Jamey (Karen). He also is survived by two sisters — Lola Holt and Rita Bastian (Jack) — and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. A brother, Ralph LeClair, and a sister, Augusta Adams, died before him.

The family will receive friends and family at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 142 Maple Ave., Altamont, on Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m. A service and reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to: Community Hospice Foundation, 310 S. Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208; Eddy Visiting Nurse Association, ℅ Northeast Health Foundation Center for Philanthropy, 310 S. Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208; or Altamont Rescue Squad, 767 State Route 146, Altamont, NY 12009.

— Andrew Schotz