Plaistow, NH: Russell N. MacLeish, 64, of Plaistow died unexpectedly of natural causes on January 19, 2016, at his home.

Born in Methuen, MA, son of Shirlie I. (Hardy) MacLeish and the late Russell C. MacLeish, he graduated from Andover High School with the Class of 1969. Mr. MacLeish was employed as a small engine mechanic at Taylor Rental in Andover and Lawrence, MA.

As a young man, Mr. MacLeish was a Little League Pitcher and a member of the Cub Scouts Pack 77 and The Boy Scouts of America. He enjoyed boating on Newfound Lake with his father's boat and collected pet snakes.

A guitarist for the 1960s rock group, The Bowmen. He was also a stock car racing enthusiast, and a mechanic for the 2015 Star Speedway Champion Stock Car team, the Outlaws, of which his nephew, Wess, and step-son-in-law, Barry, were members. The 2015 winner of the Top Wrench Award at Star Speedway, one of his prize possessions was a 1957 Chevy Nomad that he painstakingly restored himself.

He was predeceased by his wife, Nancy (Jones) (Edney) Hall-MacLeish and his step-son, Brian R. Edney, and is survived by his mother, Shirlie (Hardy) MacLeish of Andover, MA, a sister, Lynda Murphy of Salem, NH, two step-daughters and step-sons-in-law, April S. and Brian Walton of Kingston, and Jennifer L. and Barry J. Raymond, Jr. of Sandown, two nephews, Chad R. Murphy of Framingham, MA, and Wess C. Murphy of Haverhill, a great-nephew, Mark Murphy, six step grandchildren, one step great grandchild, an aunt, an uncle, and several cousins.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Mr. MacLeish's Life Celebration on Monday, January 25 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main Street, Plaistow, NH. His funeral service will be held on Tuesday, January 26 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will take place at a later date in Spring Grove Cemetery, Andover, MA. To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit our website, www.brooksidechapelfh.com.