Leslie Verner "Les" Spurling

Bar Harbor
Leslie "Les" Verner Spurling, 84, died April 11, 2024, in Bangor. He was born May 19, 1939, on Great Cranberry Island, the son of Erwin L. and Louise (Gilley) Spurling.
He graduated from Mt. Desert High School in Northeast Harbor in 1958. During his high school years, he played basketball and helped to win the State Gold Ball under Bernard Parady. This was something he was very proud of and talked about his entire life. He also was able to scrimmage with members of the Boston Celtics.
After high school, Les began his military career as a Police Officer in the US Army. He was stationed in Germany and had the privilege of meeting Elvis. He also worked with the US Secret Service and helped to guard President Dwight D. Eisenhower's plane.
On May 16th, 1970, Les married the love of his life, Norma C. Wilbur, aboard the Sunbeam in Valley Cove. One year later they welcomed their daughter, Jennifer, and resided in Bar Harbor for the remainder of his life. He first worked at Grants Dept. Store and FW Woolworth in Ellsworth, and later became a cable installer on MDI. He then devoted 18 years to serving and protecting the citizens of Bar Harbor as an officer with The Bar Harbor Police Reserves. He helped to guard celebrities when they came to town and enjoyed working on the pier when the cruise ships came to port. Les could often be seen walking "the beat" around Bar Harbor and enjoyed all of the antics which came along with the job each summer. Upon retirement from the BHPD, Les became a caretaker of a Seal Harbor estate where he ended his career in his early 80's.
He enjoyed hunting on Hardwood Hill in Franklin and fishing whenever he had a chance. He could also frequently be seen collecting wood from the side of the road, and working on his great woodpile on Ledgelawn Ave. Les and Norma had a seasonal camping lot at Whispering Pines Campground on Toddy Pond where they enjoyed their summers and commuted back to town for work. They loved every minute of their time spent there and made many good friends along the way.
Above all else, Les's greatest joy was his grandchildren. He and Norma enjoyed travelling to Southern Maine to see them whenever they could. They loved babysitting them, taking them camping or on special outings when the kids were in town. His family will always cherish the memories of their time spent with him close to their hearts.
In addition to his wife of 54 years, Norma, he is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Spurling, of Hancock; very special grandchildren, Ava Gibson, of Hancock and grandson, Dylan Gibson, of Lamoine; stepdaughter, Maria Lopez and Kevin Black of Sullivan; special nephew, Thomas Wallace and wife Allyson, of Northeast Harbor; a great-granddaughter; great niece and nephew and a great-great nephew. Les had many special friends and always brought a smile to those he knew and met with his stories. He was predeceased by his parents and sister and brother-in-law, Lena and William Wallace, of Northeast Harbor.
Contributions in Les's memory may be made to Great Cranberry Island Historical Society, PO Box 12, Cranberry Isles, ME 04625
A celebrations of Leslie's life will be held May17, 2024, at 1:00pm at Jordan-Fernald,1139 Main St. Mount Desert.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com