MORRILL — Leslie Jesse Peters was born on May 14, 1943 in Mombasa, Kenya to Sylvia Myrtle Battye and Ernest Albert Peters.

He grew up in a large family with many brothers and sisters. He often played cowboys and Indians and dreamt of someday going to America. Les developed a love for music at an early age and was in several rock and roll bands in Kenya. One of his proudest accomplishments was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak.

As a young man he left Africa and moved to Rome, Italy. Here he joined others from Kenya in a rock band called The Bushmen. It was at this time he met the love of his life, Kathi Pozerycki. They were married in October of 1966. A year later their first son Jesse was born.

Les still dreamt of coming to America, so in 1969 he, Kathi, and Jesse moved to Worcester MA. A few months later a second son, John, was born. In 1972 Les and family moved to Maine where he worked for the Portland Stove Foundry, rising to the position of Vice President.

Les achieved a life-long dream in 1976 when he became a naturalized citizen on the bicentennial anniversary of our country. In 1977 he and Kathi bought their first farm in Pownal. They raised chickens, pigs, sheep, cattle, but most importantly horses. Les and Kathi spent many hours riding horses together through the trails and roads of Pownal. Later they discovered the joys of carriage driving on the carriage roads of Acadia National Park.

In 1990 Les went to work at L.L.Bean in the Hunting Department. For 18 years Les was always good for a story…hunters and fishermen would come to the store just to hear of his latest adventures. Les loved the outdoors and delighted in going hunting and fishing with his sons and many friends. He had a passion for turkey hunting and drew hunters from all over the country to come hunt with him. In 2014 Les returned to work part-time at L.L.Bean - he had many more stories to tell!

The love of Acadia and the Midcoast drew Les and Kathi to Morrill in 2002. Here he was able to have the horse farm he had always dreamt of.

Les passed away on Monday, July 29 doing one of the things he loved best, working with horses in Acadia. He is survived by his loving wife, Kathi; son, Jesse and wife Susan; son, John and wife Debbie; grandchildren, Jackie and husband Martin, Max, Logan, Kristen and Matthew; great grandchildren, Rylan, Cailyn, and Lydia; brother, Edgar and his wife Ann; brother, Colin; and sister, Cynthia.

He is predeceased by his parents; brothers, Malcom and Derik; and sister, Tina.

Celebration of Life information will follow at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Les Peters to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (Memorial ID #11705808).

Memories may be shared at ripostafh.com.