Leslie 'Les' Sargent

Leslie (Les) Vaughn Sargent was born April 12, 1944, in Rushville, Ill., to Maxine (Vaughn) and Henry Sargent. He was a farm boy, helping his dad raise cattle and plant corn and beans on 93 acres. He graduated from Rushville High School and received an associates engineering degree from Southern Illinois University Vocational Technical Institute in Cartersville in 1965. This farm boy married his country girl, Diana Louise Blakley, on July 11, 1970, in Springfield, Ill., where their 3 children were born.
After graduation, Les worked for Allis-Chalmers/Fiat-Allis in Springfield as a tool designer from 1966 to 1981. After several layoffs, Les decided it was time to look for another job, so in 1981, Les and his family moved southwest to Stillwater, Okla., where he continued as a tool designer for MerCruiser until he retired in 2003.
Les was a shy person, but found that teasing was a way to overcome his shyness and always said, If I am not kidding you then you are not in my circle. Les enjoyed playing golf throughout his life and tried to play every day after he retired. Les and Diana enjoyed taking their kids on camping vacations, alone or with friends and other family members. After the kids became adults, they invited Les and Diana with them to vacations in England, New York City and several cruises. One of Les memorable trips was on an Alaskan cruise with Diana, her cousin, Lori, and husband, Tom. He also enjoyed travelling to New York City twice to watch his daughter, Pam, run in the marathon, which made him a proud father.
Les is survived by his wife, Diana; daughters, Nancy Hicks of Stillwater, and Pam Sargent-Morris and husband, Chris, of Oklahoma City; son, Brian Sargent and wife, Raquel, of Oklahoma City; grandsons, Christopher Hicks and Cody Sargent; granddogs, Lulu Morris and Jack and Mervyn Sargent; and grandkittens, Lucy and Milo Morris; mother, Maxine Sargent of Rushville; sisters, Joyce Williams and husband, Terry, of Rushville, Janet Shelts of Jacksonville, Ill., and Donna Sargent of Rushville; brother-in-law, Cecil Vancil of Macomb, Ill.; father-in-law, Nelson Blakley and his wife, Liz, of Springfield; all of Dianas brothers and sisters; and many nieces and nephews.
Les was preceded in death by his father, Henry Sargent; grandparents, Carl and Edna Sargent and Melvin and Hazel Vaughn; brother, Lelin Sargent; sister, Doris Vancil; and mother-in-law, Louise Blakley.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Judith Karman Bristol Hospice, in care of Palmer-Marler Carberry Funeral Home, 5106 N Washington St., Stillwater, OK, 74075 or in Les memory to Project Purple to beat pancreatic cancer at http://goo.gl/azrvhK.