As a newlywed, Les moved his family to the Kansas City area and worked as a mechanic for Mission Ford and Van Chevrolet before opening his own automotive repair and machine shop, L and L Automotive, in Shawnee Kansas in 1976.
He continued to own and operate his successful business until his retirement in 2015, when his Parkinson’s became too much to contend with.
Les loved drag racing but he worked hard to play hard! He was an avid drag racer and was well known in the drag racing community. His last race car that he won best in show with was a V-6 carbureted Cobalt that could finish a quarter mile in about 8.6 seconds at a speed exceeding 160 MPH. He thought the world of all of his racing buddies. He considered you all as his best friends!
Les is survived by his wife Linda, his daughter Sharon Vorhies, his daughter and son-in-law Gwen and Randy Armstrong. He also is survived by 4 grandchildren; Sharon’s son Alex and her daughter Megan, Gwen & Randy’s daughters Kelsey Hall (Brance) and Victoria Green (Adam). There are also 5 great-grandchildren; William Hall, Lucas Hall, Jasen Hall, Jonathan Green, and Kayleigh Green. He is also survived by his sisters Wanda Cassell and Thelma Underwood.
Leslie was preceded in death by his father Roy Swearengin, his mother Alaska Swearengin, his brother Ronald Swearengin, and his brother Tesley Swearengin.
Visitation will be held Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 11:00 AM with Services following at Noon at Mt.Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO. Burial will follow in Mount Moriah Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Parkinson’s Foundation.