Lesley McLatchy

1950 - 2024

Lesley (Les) McLatchy

Rowe, MA - Lesley Kristine (Durie) McLatchy of Rowe passed away peacefully surrounded by family on October 9, 2024 after a brief battle with pneumonia.

Lesley (Les) was born on January 14, 1950 in Everett, Massachusetts to William and Shirley (Huggins) Durie. She grew up in North Reading, MA and attended North Reading schools, graduating High School in 1968. After graduation, Lesley went to work for MITRE Corporation. Later in life she worked at the Post Office as a clerk.

Lesley married Paul McLatchy Jr. on a snowy winter day on January 12, 1980. Over the next ten years they welcomed their four children Kerri, Meghan, Wendy, and Paul III. Family was the most important thing to Lesley. She was a stay at home mom for all of her children. When her girls were younger, she was a Girl Scout leader. She also loved chaperoning her kid's trips so she could enjoy the fun opportunities with them.

Les was a devoted fan at all of her children's events, whether volleyball, track, cheerleading, or music department. This extended to her grandkids. She was an avid fan of their hockey and baseball teams.

From a young age, Lesley was a lover of animals. She was often found curled up with one of her cats.

Les loved to travel and always jumped at the opportunity- whether Europe with her parents, a girls' trip to Jamaica, a road trip to Nova Scotia, or a couples cruise to Bermuda. Each year the family had a tradition of taking a Fall Foliage road trip together. It was the highlight of the season.

For fun, Lesley enjoyed playing games, especially cards. She enjoyed how it brought family together, whether or not she was winning. This also extended to her weekly bowling league and bingo nights. A lover of music, Lesley would always have music on. It was no surprise her favorite movie, Mama Mia, was a musical.

Les spent most of her summers as an adult at her and Paul's summer house at the Cape where she loved to go deep sea fishing, entertain, and spend time with her family.

Lesley was the hostess with the mostest, with plenty of food and love to go around when it came to her family and friends. She loved to cook and bake. Shortbread cookies and turkey dinner were her favorites. Her love for entertaining extended to the holidays and there was always an extra chair at the table for dinner because she felt nobody should spend the holidays alone. Christmas Eve was always spent with her closest friends and family- a tradition that happened every year in the McLatchy household.

Lesley was predeceased by her parents William and Shirley Durie, her sister Susan Dingle, Nephew William Richardson, and her in-laws Paul and Betty McLatchy.

Les is survived by her husband of 44 years, Paul McLatchy Jr., her four children- Kerri McLatchy (Carl), Meghan Wells (Steve), Wendy Norcross (Dave), and Paul McLatchy III. She is known as Grammy to her five beloved grandchildren- Jesse, Parker, Ryan, Emma, and Blake. Not a day went by that she didn't feel lucky to see them as much as she did. She is also survived by her sister Pamela Richardson (Tom), brother Eric Durie (Laurinda), brother-in-law Norman Dingle, sister-in-law Christine Murray (Brian), and nieces and nephews- Tommy, Erik, Nikki, Brian, Erica, Jennifer, Heather, Billy, Michael, Kathryn, Elizabeth, and Danny. Considered the family you choose, she is survived by her best friends Jackie and Dick Howe, and their kids Adam (Kelly) Matt (Jenny) Sam (Tam), and Ed and Rita Carlson and their family Nick (Julia) and Hunter.

Calling Hours will be Friday October 18th from 2:00-4:00pm at Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home in Shelburne Falls. A short service will occur at 4:00 followed by a celebration of life at Shelburne Falls Eagles. The Burial will be Saturday October 19th at 11:00 at West Cemetery in Rowe.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Dementia Society of America or your local animal shelter.