I don't know if anyone on here knew Les Garrell From London Ont.. Les Was a good friend of mine long time ago but time and family and life has a way of passing quickly and friends sort of come in and out of our lives.. Last time I had seen Les was the last ELTA bash last summer..I just heard by way the London Free Press that les had passed away last Tuesday and his funeral was on Saturday in London..He was a long time rodder ,he had a 40 Chevy that he owned and drove for the last 35 years or more..He was also member of the South western On Streetrods.. Les was a good guy and a loyal friend we had many good memories and made several rod tours to-gether over the years..many trips to Hershey and Carlyle ..He will be missed and I wish him Gods-speed.. So long my friend and thanks for your friendship..and the good times and the memories..RIP my friend..
We are heartbroken at the loss of our loving father in his 71st year. As our patriarch, he was the heart and soul of our family. He genuinely cared for others with gentle wise counsel, respect and understanding. Fiercely courageous, he lived by his principles: loyalty being paramount. Leslie Durand was born in Chatham Township and grew up in North Buxton, Ontario before moving to the big city of Toronto. He later moved his young family to London. Mourned by his children Leslie (Diane), Steven, Lorraine (Tony Brown), and Leigh Ann (Jeff Tetreau). Sadly missed by his sister Ronda and his step-mother Ann, siblings Bonita, Keith, Alan, Gary and May Lyn. Predeceased by his parents Jocqueline (Lucas) and Leslie Garrell, his wife Beverly Jean and his daughter Deborah Ann. Deeply cherished by his grandchildren Desire, Adrianne and Isaac Mention, Puppet, Skye and Raine Garrell, Jazmine, Jayde and Joshua Tetreau. Durand is also survived by his beloved 6 great-grandchildren, and his blessed extended family members. Leslie Durand’s good nature, warm heart, and enduring spirit rewarded him with the gift of many family members and friends with whom he shared wonderful and enduring memories and sometimes naughty experiences. He found richness in his life’s simple pleasures: cars, family, fishing, cruise nights with the Southern Ontario Street Rod Association and car shows that spanned the continent with the National Street Rod Association.
Hey chuck...I was at the funeral on Sat. and I know Les would be touch by how many came out to honour his memory.....many of us took our hot rods......Les will be missed by all that knew his quick smile and generous soul...............God Speed Les.
Mark..Wish I would have known..I only just found out on Sunday about his passing..Les and I go back a long way but had not seen much of each other the last couple years..Last time I seen les was at the last Aug Bash..I really feel bad that I was unable to be there..Wish I would have known..Thanks for being there Les would appreciated the last rod run..Great on you for being there..
Mark..Wish I would have known..I only just found out on Sunday about his passing..Les and I go back a long way but had not seen much of each other the last couple years..Last time I seen les was at the last Aug Bash..I really feel bad that I was unable to be there..Wish I would have known..Thanks for being there Les would appreciated the last rod run..Great on you for being there..
Hey Chuck....... I know you were thinking of Les and keeping his memory close to your heart brother and even thou you weren't there for the funeral , I truly believe Les's spirit could feel your love.......he's up there smiling down at all his hot rod buddies and having a beer with St. Peter.
Chuck thank you very much for posting this. I always have been one to check the obits section of the paper, at my/our age a lot of names are familiar unfortunately.
Busy last week and then a wedding on saturday it slipped by.
The first time I met Les it was the mid '70's, he was twisting wrenches at a Sunoco at Clarke and Trafalgar. At that time he told me he had a '40 Chev he had owned for a long time. I remember the night he came through the door of a shop in Thorndale carrying a SBC block by himself. He was always happy to see a familiar face.
A real good guy!!!
R.I.P Les
TMJ
The first time I met Les it was the mid '70's, he was twisting wrenches at a Sunoco at Clarke and Trafalgar
That would have been Ron Krafts..
Was sitting on the deck last night feeling pretty low that I had missed the opportunity to say a final farewell to my good friend Les.. I did how ever have a lot of memories of times with Less and BJ..I recall one time we came back from Hershey and that would have been late sixties or early seventy..Anyway we had took a week for holidays and went camping at Hershey both of us coming back across the border at Detroit/Windsor, we both had our trailers packed with lots of body parts and at our last pee stop before the border we switched wifes ,Bj rode with Me and Diane with Les..I came through with no issues but for some reason they pulled Les and My wife in for they said a random check..unpacked all les's trailer and searched the car ..Kept them there for almost 2 hrs ..We had gone ahead just a bit to the first stop we could pull off to wait for them we didn't have a clue what happened to them..Those were the days of no cell phones and we had no way of knowing what was happening ..I remember BJ and I were getting nervous about what was happening..They had nothing nor did they find any issue and they were released and eventually came along ..My wife was crying her eyes out she was so upset about being searched and grilled with questions..it was pretty stressfull at the time but we had many chukles about that incident for years after and she never crossed the boarder again with Les... Les was an Olds guy and always ran Olds drive train in his Chevy..I remember us working on that car way back when he lived on Emery St and at end of the Street at that time Was Saddie Bros Auto wreckers so we had a good source of parts supply I think that was around 66..68.. We had a lot of good times ...I'll miss yah Les ..I will be along soon..Hope there is no ethanol in the fuel.. If you have any old friends that you haven't touched base with in a few years I would encourage you to pick up the phone or drop by for a visit ..you will feel much better for it ..Sure wish I had..
