Obituary of Leslie W. Gardepe

Leslie (Les) W. Gardepe, Jr. of Franklin, passed away at home on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.

Les was born on May 14, 1957 to the late Leslie W. Gardepe Sr. and Dorothy (Deighton) Gardepe. Les grew up on Dryden Brook in the town of Walton, and attended Walton Central School.

Les was an avid hunter and enjoyed taking many hunting trips west over the years, especially to Montana. However, some of Les’s fondest hunting memories were taking his grandchildren out hunting for the first time.  Les also enjoyed cooking and baking pies for his family around the holidays. Les was always the guy to call for pig roasts and BBQ’s as well, whether it was a wedding or a birthday party, everyone would rave about the food that he prepared.

Les had many jobs throughout his life from logging to carpentry but, for the past 30 years he was employed by LaFever Excavating, where he was well known for his ability to operate any, and all equipment. He built hundreds of beautiful ponds, driveways, and roads in this area that he called home. During the winter months Les would make maple syrup for the business that he started with Zachary Haverly & Mike Schaefer in 2014; Honest Brook Maple.

Les is survived by his significant other, Margery (Kathy) Lee, his children, Christopher Gardepe, Leslie (Brian) Ballard, Ashley (Derrick) Scobie, Zachary (Stacey) Haverly, Jennifer Wescott, Katrina Akerman, & Amanda Gardepe, his grandchildren, Zoey, Xavier, Orion, Christopher, Lindsey, Dakota, Elyssa, Kylie, Rider, Rhys, Frankie, Addy, Hayden (and several others),  his nephew Scott Valentine and his father-in-law Osgood Peck.

In addition to his parents, Les was predeceased by his sister Patricia Valentine.  

Calling hours will be held from 4pm-7pm on Tuesday December 26, 2023 at the Hall & Peet Funeral Home, 134 Main Street, Delhi.

Please visit www.hallandpeet.com to share a condolence with Les’s family.