Westborough – Leslie “Lee” Murray Gavel, 74, died Friday, Oct. 14, 2011 at the Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center. He was the son of James Murray Gavel and Lillian (Keddy) Gavel and brother of Sylvia (Gavel) Doran of Northborough. He was married to Karen Tripp in 1960. He and Diane Pearson (now Gorby) married in 1979.
His children are Peter M. Gavel of Portland, Maine, Paul M. Gavel of Byfield, Kari (Gavel) Oevermann of North Grafton and Matthew M. Gavel of Sparks, Maryland. He was the grandfather of Amber, Michael, James (deceased), Tanya, David, Katherine, Nicholas, Douglas, Gregory, Anna, Katarina and Martin.
Mr. Gavel graduated from Nasson College with a Bachelor's degree in 1961 and from Cambridge College with a Master's degree in 2002. His work experiences involved managing a Howard Johnson restaurant in Terre Haute, Indiana; selling real estate and managing properties in Massachusetts, owning and running laundry and dry-cleaning facilities in Shrewsbury and Framingham; and cooking at Westborough State Hospital. After earning his Master's degree, he was a substance abuse counselor for people with mental illness at Vin Fen in Dorchester.
At various times, Mr. Gavel lived in Medford, Wellesley, Terre Haute, Northborough, Boxboro, Grafton and Arlington.
He was a member of the Baptist churches in Medford and Dorchester, Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, and Methodist churches in Worcester and Westborough. He was also a member and Past Master (1978) of Wellesley Lodge AF & AM.
His funeral service will be held Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 10 a.m., in the First United Methodist Church, 120 West Main St.,Westborough. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. Calling hours Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 5 to 8 p.m.,at the Rand-Harper-Pickering Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main St., Westborough.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the ALS Association, Development Department, 27001 Agoura Rd., Suite 250, Calabasas Hills, CA 91301.
