Leslie Charles Pepper

MORIAH | Les Pepper, 98, of Moriah passed away Dec. 30, 2025, at the Elderwood Home in Ticonderoga. He was born on Feb. 26, 1927, in Moriah, N.Y., the son of Adelbert and Ruth "Munch" Pepper. He was a lifelong resident of Moriah, not wanting to go any further than his own backyard. Growing up on the family farm (now Chapuk's) he learned many life lessons. One time in high school the bus driver called and asked him to drive the school bus, as he had busted a few ribs plowing. He learned how to drive anything, even a team of horses when he was 10 years old. In 1945 he joined the Coast Guard. On his return home he met his future wife, Marge O'neil, at a baseball game at "Pepper Field." They raised eight little Peppers (his baseball team). He trapped beaver, hunted, logged, and any odd job he could find, but with the third child coming he thought he ought to get a steady job, so in 1952 his uncle Jim Pepper got him a job at Niagara Mohawk (now National Grid). He retired in 1986 with 34 years working and lived to enjoy his retirement for 39 years. He liked to say he beat the system. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, loved his garden, mowing the lawn and watching the Yankees and Giants, cursing when they lost. We took Sunday drives to Vermont looking for deer. Mom packed a lunch and eight kids piled in the old station wagon. And he always spotted the first deer! He was a quiet man, but we learned more from him than anyone else. He never raised a hand, although he would threaten. He just had to look at you, oh, that look. Besides his parents he is predeceased by his wife of 59½ years, Marjorie (O'neil); his daughter, Roberta "Bobbie" Aurillio; his brothers Lyman "Bud," Donald "Stub," and his sisters Grace Harriman and Jane Remy. He is survived by his sons, Leslie Pepper Jr. (Miki) of Maine and Franklin Pepper (Gloria) of Port Henry; his daughters, Karen Gibbs (Chris) of Moriah, Wanda Cox of Moriah, Teresa Dufrane (Dave) of Florida, Sandy Wheelock (Rob) of North Carolina, Cheryl Pierce (Jeanette) of Port Henry; 16 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews, cousins, even friends were family to him. Calling hours were held Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Harland Funeral Home in Port Henry. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your favorite charity.

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