Lester Abbey

LESTER ALLEN ABBEY Passed away tragically June 28, 2016 while swimming the Mad River in McKinleyville after an evening jog. He was a significant person to many and is deeply missed. Lester moved to New Zealand in 1974 and founded Abbey Systems in 1978, specializing in design and development of Telemetry products for water, power and energy. Lester's staff, whom worked for him many years, considered him "a father figure." Lester lived life to the fullest: an avid adventurer, hiker, bicyclist, competitive runner, musician, family man and guardian to his adult son, inventor, author, businessman and model ship builder. His shipbuilding guild considered Lester, "A true gentleman." He built over 100 model ships, sometimes over lunch hour. He earned model ship builder of the month displaying the USS Fletcher and USS O'Bannon in addition to 1/700 scale IJN Fuso and USS Helena. He was nominated Inventor of the Year in New Zealand. He wrote books about the New Orleans Class Cruisers, Iowa Class Battleships, and Fletcher Class Destroyers. Although an accomplished man, he was cited for his extraordinary presence. "He was a very kind person. He was unafraid to express unconventional opinions," a long time friend commented. Another memory from his nephew recalled, "Lester challenged his mind, body and soul, while not overlooking the simple joys of storytelling, a good joke, friendships, a great cook, and twice survived cancer." He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth and three sons, Ethan and Byron of New Zealand and Hunter of California; parents, Hermione and Lester Abbey, and brother Laurance, of McKinleyville; sister Deirdre (Rick) Hagstrom of Fort Myers Beach, Florida, and Randall (Sandra) of Cave Creek, Arizona. Lester stated, "I am going to be a good uncle," to his nieces and nephews Lindsey, Derrick, Kevin, Alyssa, Alex, Patrick and Shaun. Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com