Leslie Jay Gildersleeve, retired City housing authority worker and life-long carpenter, passed on December 21, 2021 at St. Joseph Hospital, surrounded by his family and friends. He was 70 years old.

He is survived by his wife Gaylene, their son Jason and his wife Stacy Gildersleeve, their son Adam Gildersleeve with his grandchildren Austin, A.J., and Caitlin Gildersleeve with great grandchild Samuel Gildersleeve.

He is preceded in death by his father Harvey Gildersleeve, his mother Vera Gildersleeve and his sister Shirley Stout.

Les — a devoted husband, father and friend — was born on October 22, 1951 in Washington. His family moved to Eureka, where he met his future bride, and after graduating Eureka High School in 1970, he wed and enlisted into the Army. He was in the 82nd Airborne, stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

He moved west to be close to family and graduated College of the Redwoods with an associate’s degree. He began his carpenter trade with Bigham Construction and quickly rose to foreman. After, several decades with them he began a new chapter of his life with the Eureka City Housing Authority, where his natural sociability and carpentry allowed him to bond with the Eureka community. He retired from there in 2017.

Les’s greatest joy in life was being with his family and friends. Those who knew him love and respect him. He was always there for his family and friends unprompted in their times of need. Les enjoyed family gatherings, motorcycle rides, bowling with his Bolero team and fishing with his sons and grandchildren.

His continuous smile, infectious laugh, and his genuine loving patience will be deeply missed.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date when safer for his family and friends to gather.

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