Obituary – Leslie “Les” Durell Hanford
Leslie “Les” Durell Hanford, age 63, of Loganton, PA, passed away at home on November 27, 2023. Les was born to the late Sandra Lee and Seely Hanford on June 10, 1960, in Jersey Shore, PA. Les was named after his grandfathers.
Family was the most important aspect in Les’s life…
Les is survived by his wife, Jill, and three children. Les and Jill were married on September 26, 1987, at her parents’ home in Booneville by her Uncle Lester Welshans. Les was so proud and loved his children: Kaleen Ann (Travis) Sherman, Carly Lynn (Colby) Herman, and Luke Michael (Jocelyn) Hanford.
Les loved his granddaughters: Paislee Ann, 9, Kynlee Rose, 3, and Charlee Lynn, 1, Sherman. PapPap was one of their very first words. Les and Jill recently found out that his fourth granddaughter, Sylvie Lee Herman will be arriving in May of 2024.
Les worked with his dad doing autobody work at his dad’s garage on Vine Ave in Williamsport. Barr Cadillac brought a lot of their vehicles there. Les drove so many different cars back and forth from the garage to the dealership and got to see how fast they would go.
Les and his brother Joe have always been close. Les lived with Joe and they both worked together doing autobody. They both are masters of their trade, rebuilding wrecks and restoring cars.
Les has a younger brother, Dwayn Hanford. Les was a proud brother as Dwayn who served five terms for our country. Dwayn and his wife, Angie, recently visited and enjoyed making pot pie with Les. Les loved to cook and can. He makes amazing lasagna, and his recipe will be used for the food during his Celebration of Life.
Les has a younger sister, Barb Snell. They grew up playing games outside and is one of her favorite memories. Barb also recently visited over the past two weekends with her husband, Dennis, and enjoyed Les’s lasagna.
Les has two other brothers, Bob, and Chuck Hanford both of Montgomery. Les always looked forward to seeing the family at the Hanford/Haier reunions at Joes and Linda’s every year.
Les’ grandparents were Leslie Guy and Reeta Hanford, Raymond, Willimine (Billy), and Eva Sheasley of Jersey Shore.
Les and Jill loved to visit their Aunt Judy and Uncle Jim Maxwell in NC. Their love, kindness, and support for Les meant the world to him.
Les worked for HRI, Teamsters, and Operator & Engineer’s. He loved working in the beautiful mountains of PA running heavy equipment and made many great memories with his son’s Luke and Travis and the crews he worked with that became part of a pipeline family.
Les had a passion for old school muscles cars and told Jill of his “tales of the street cars growing up in Jersey Shore.” He had many cars, including twenty-one GTOs, and he drove them fast and furiously while street racing with friends. A large part of Les’s life was spent in his garage working on all the family’s cars and trucks and GTO while teaching Luke and Travis the right way versus the quick and easy. Les and Jill share the love of cars and Les bought Jill a 79’ Z28 which they both loved to drive. Les and Jill shared the love of cars and les bought Jill a 79 Z28 and Harley Wide Glide…was the Harley really for Jill? They both loved to ride. Those who knew Les, know his keen sense of humor.
For the past few years, it became harder for Les to go out. Les cherished having close friends that would always stop in to visit him.
Les didn’t mind being home alone because he was never alone. Raisin, his loyal German Shepard, never left his side and was his protector. She went with him any place possible, even visiting him at the hospital. Raisin was with him till the end.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852 in Les’s name.
A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, December 3 from 1-4 pm at the Southern Clinton County Sportsman Club where Les and Jill had their wedding reception in 1986. (55 S. Sportsman Road, Loganton, PA)
Please join us in celebrating Les’ life and sharing favorite memories of him.
Online thoughts and memories can be made at www.GedonFuneralHomes.com and the Gedon Funeral Homes Facebook Page.
