Leslie Ellmore "Rocky" Gaut, Jr.

April 24 1938 – August 15, 2025

US Veteran

Born in Detroit Michigan in 1938 to Christine Breck and Leslie Ellmore Gaut, young Leslie was given the nickname of "Rocky" at the time of his birth. The family of three moved to Cleveland and then Cincinnati, OH which ultimately became his childhood home.

In 1950 he started at Cincinnati Country Day which he attended through the 10th grade, lettering in basketball and baseball. It was during these early years he developed his lifelong obsession with golf.  After 10th grade he attended The Taft School in Watertown Connecticut, where he played soccer, basketball and baseball, again lettering in all sports.

After graduating from Taft in 1956, he attended Washington & Lee College, graduating in 1960 with a degree in History, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserves.   At W & L he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and played and lettered in soccer, basketball and tennis.

As a reserve officer he served in the Army Transportation Corp 1961-62 in Berlin Germany during the building of the wall which separated East and West Germany until 1989.  He received an honorable discharge as a First Lieutenant in October 1968.

Rocky's professional career for 38 years was with Exxon Oil Co., primarily in marketing and then property management. He retired from Exxon in 1998 after 38 years, but continued to work as an independent business broker until he retired around 2015.

He was an avid and competitive golfer, playing regularly throughout his life. He was a long-time member of the Country Club of Maryland and an active member of Maryland Presbyterian Church and then Towson Presbyterian Church.

He is survived by his wife Mary D. Gaut, 3 daughters from his first marriage (Sandra Bain Fink) Halle von Kessler, Emily Little, Carrie Gaut - all of Baltimore, 2 step children, Rachel Morgan Spencer of Roanoke, David Morgan of Baltimore and 8 grandchildren: Cullen Little of Los Angeles, Eleanor Little of Richmond, Natalie Little of Baltimore, Stella and Everett von Kessler of Baltimore, Porter and Allison Spencer of Roanoke and Chloe Morgan of Odenton.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at Towson Presbyterian Church on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 11am.  In lieu of flowers, please remember Rocky with memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association .

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.peacefulalternatives.com