John Carl "Carlie" Welsh, 78, of Concord, retired Officer, Concord Police Dept. died peacefully on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 surrounded by his family and in the outstanding care of the staff of the Rose Monahan Hospice Home. Born in Waltham in 1939 and raised in Concord, Carl attended Concord Public Schools and was a member of the Concord High School Class of 1958. Upon graduation, he entered into the US Air Force and after an honorable discharge, enrolled in the Massachusetts Police Academy. He proudly served on the Concord Police Department until the time of his retirement. For many years he also worked as a mason, a trade he learned working alongside his father. Carlie enjoyed a happy childhood with his parents Jim and Thelma and siblings Clarke, Frankie, Sandra, many cousins and friends. Friends recall that the Welsh house was always filled with the delicious aroma of Thelma's cooking and baking. Pets ranged from Spot the boxer to Sammy the squirrel. When his sister Sandra wanted a horse, he bought her Lucky. More than one friend has recalled that it was Carlie who found just the right dog for them. There were adventures at Kennedy's Pond, Bill Murphy's clubhouse, and Arrowhead Farm. Summers were often spent in beautiful Rexton, New Brunswick, Canada on his uncle's farm. It was on one of these visits to New Brunswick that as a young man, he met the love of his life Marie Brown. Carl and Marie were married in Rexton in 1964 and settled in Concord where they raised their children: Carla, John and Jennifer. A cottage was purchased on the Richibucto River in Rexton where family and friends enjoyed countless good times filled with laughter, good food, boating, music, and always story-telling. In his later years, Carl and his brother Clarke would spend the warm months at the cottage and the winter months in Florida. Carl made his last visit to New Brunswick in August of this year. It was a wonderful trip where he enjoyed visiting with family and many, many friends. Carlie served on the Concord Police Department in an era where town employees most often lived in town. There was a time when he knew almost everyone in Concord and he genuinely enjoyed his work. He was quick to find the good in everyone and could count on one hand the number of people that he didn't care for. He loved to tell stories and enjoyed nothing more than a good practical joke. His friends are too numerous to count. It is a blessing to his family that so many people considered him a good friend. Carlie was a loving husband and father. He and Marie complimented each other; she was the disciplinarian and he, like his own father, was easy going and slow to anger; she was meticulous, he was not; she didn't smoke and rarely enjoyed a drink…he enjoyed indulging in both but she kept him in line. Marie's death at the age of 48 filled the family with sadness but also forged a very close bond between Carl and his children. In recent years, Carlie's greatest joy came from the time he spent with his grandchildren, Tommy and Carolyn. Watching them grow to be amazing, funny and loving young people filled him with pride. Carl was the beloved husband for 24 years of the late Marie (Brown) Welsh; loving father of Carla of Concord, John and his wife Wendy of Acton, Jennifer Ward and her husband Dan of Stow. Devoted grandfather of Thomas Carl Ward and Carolyn Marie Ward, both of Stow; Brother of Sandra Ward of Stow; predeceased by his brothers Clarke and Frankie; brother-in-law of Betty Wilson of Riverview, N.B., Canada. Many cherished nieces, nephews, cousins and friends also survive him. Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Thursday, November 9th from 4 to 8 pm in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center. His funeral service will be on Friday, November 10th at 10 am in the Farrar Chapel of the Dee Funeral Home. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Bernard's Cemetery in Concord. Concord's Town Flag will fly at half-staff on Friday, November 10th in recognition of his honorable service in the U.S. Air Force. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in Carl's memory to the Rose Monahan Hospice Home at VNA Care, Fund Development, 199 Rosewood Drive, Suite 180, Danvers, MA 01923 or via www.vnacare.org or the Concord Police Relief Association, 219 Walden Street, Concord, MA 01742. Arrangements are under the care of the Dee Funeral Home of Concord.