Leslie “Les” Hurst Peek

Leslie “Les” Hurst Peek was called home to be with his Lord and Savior on April 29, 2022. He passed away peacefully, due to natural causes, at the age of 84. Leslie was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on July 13, 1937, to Ernest W. Peek and Ruth Hurst Peek, who both preceded him in death. Leslie was also preceded in death by his beloved wife, Patricia Powell Peek, and his brother, Herschel W. Peek. He is survived by his sister, Belinda Peek Smith, in Baton Rouge, La., and his cousins, Virginia Neely and Andrew Peek. He is also survived my many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Leslie grew up in Knoxville, was an All-City basketball player at South High School, and captained the Carson-Newman basketball team in 1957-58. He also played on the tennis team at Carson-Newman. After graduating from Carson-Newman he taught math and coached basketball at Maryville High School from 1959-60. He married Pat, the love of his life, in 1960 and moved to Florida, where he taught math for three years. After receiving his master’s degree in Math Education from the Univ. of Tennessee in 1963, he returned to Florida, where he taught mathematics at Brevard Junior College. Leslie and Pat then moved to Macon, and both began teaching at Mercer University. Leslie coached the Mercer tennis team for eight years. Leslie was a dedicated teacher, desiring for students to learn, while also enjoying being with them. Leslie and Pat retired from teaching after 34 years. In 2004, Leslie took over the business of publishing the Peek Size Football Guide, which was originated by his father in 1939.

While living in Macon he continued to play tennis, winning the Macon City Championship. He also gave tennis lessons at the Macon tennis center for the summer youth program for several years. He played golf with several men’s groups in Macon. Over the years he kept a close association with his Carson Newman tennis teammates and always looked forward to their annual reunion.

Leslie was a voracious reader of novels, commentaries, and other forms of literature and spent many hours reading. He always preferred reading real paper pages instead of a computer screen. He developed strong views about government and our country’s social interactions at all levels and had many discussions about them with friends and family. Leslie enjoyed singing in a church choir and had recently found a new church home in the Northminster Presbyterian Church.

Although his immediate family and nieces, nephews, and cousins were far away, he was always interested in the direction of their lives, and activities. His interest and association with all his family, as well as his close association with many friends in Macon and other parts of the country, will be sorely missed. A celebration of his life will be held this July.

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